Two young British brothers have died on a Spanish beach after facing difficulty when swimming in the sea.
The pair — aged 11 and 13 — drowned off Llarga Beach in Salou, Tarragona, on Tuesday night, according to the county’s Civil Guard.
Their father, who was also in the water, reportedly made a desperate attempt to save his children before being rescued.
The 112 emergency service operator first received a call just after 8.45pm, sparking a large emergency response.
Paramedics from the Medical Emergency System were sent to the scene alongside a team of psychologists to assist the grieving family.
The Salou Local Police, the Catalan Police and the Generalitat Fire Brigade were also mobilised.
Authorities have now recorded 16 fatalities in Catalan beaches in just six weeks. Last summer, 11 deaths were reported on the same beaches.
Catalonia's Civil Protection said in a statement: "Two brothers, of British nationality and aged 11 and 13, drowned this evening on the Llarga beach in Salou (Tarragona).
“The father of the minors, who had also entered the water, was rescued alive.
"These are the 15th and 16th fatalities on Catalan beaches since the summer campaign officially began on June 15, a figure that already exceeds by five those registered in the same period last summer (11).
"The emergency telephone number 112 received the warning at 8.47pm. Seven land units of the Medical Emergency System (SEM) intervened in the incident, as well as a team of psychologists activated by the same service to assist the relatives."
The British family involved are understood to be staying at the four-star Hotel Best Negresco.
