A hero Lanarkshire grandad has drowned while desperately trying to save his grandkids who got into difficulty off the Crete coast.
Jonathan Smith waded into the water to save the boys, aged seven and 10, when they began struggling in the waves before becoming trapped against the rocks.
The brave 61-year-old, from Carluke, managed to get the youngsters to safety on the craggy shore where a lifeguard and other bystanders hauled them to safety on Tuesday afternoon.
But rescuers were unable to save the pensioner and the coast guard arrived to find his lifeless body in the water before taking him to shore.
He had been holidaying on the Greek island with his wife and daughter and was reportedly caring for the children when he decided to go for a swim off the coast in Gouves.
The British man had been on holiday with his wife and daughter, the children’s mother, and was minding the boys when they went for a swim off the coastal village of Gouves.
He managed to push the boys towards bystanders before losing his grasp on the rocks and falling back in to the water.
Both boys were reportedly taken to hospital and treated for shock, but are not believed to have suffered any serious injuries.
One witness told Cretapost: “We were trying to pull him out but the currents were too strong and we couldn’t.
“With the help of the Coast Guard, the man’s body was eventually retrieved and taken to the boat.”
The Foreign Office has been contacted for a comment.
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