25 Sep, 2010 @ 09:00
1 min read

Our lives at risk

EXCLUSIVE By Wendy Williams

BEACHGOERS have slammed the authorities after they were allowed to swim in the sea just 30 minutes after a British father and son drowned in Almunecar.

They have also questioned whether red warning flags had been flying over Playa del Tesorillo beach, on the day the two men died.

Robert Wells, 75, and his son Jonathan, 45, had got into difficulties as they swam off the beach on September 7.

The story made headlines in the UK, particularly after a photographer got a picture of the two bodies lying under blankets on the shoreline, while people frollicked in the sea.

Holidaymaker Simon Murtagh told the Olive Press: “I was at that beach half an hour after they died and nobody warned us.

“We didn’t find out until after we came back safely from a swim and were told the full story by eye witnesses next to us.

“I can tell you there were no flags up.”

Despite police claims, other visitors, including an unnamed man who runs a bar on the beach, also insisted there were no red flags flying.

The pair from Cobham in Surrey died despite the brave efforts of two Spaniards who tried to save them but were forced back by the size of the waves.

Police and paramedics rushed to the scene but both Britons were already dead when they were pulled from the water.

According to Murtagh, the beach returned to normal within half an hour of the event.

He said: “When we arrived at the beach it was business as usual.”

Jon Clarke (Publisher & Editor)

Jon Clarke is a Londoner who worked at the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday as an investigative journalist before moving permanently to Spain in 2003 where he helped set up the Olive Press. He is the author of three books; Costa Killer, Dining Secrets of Andalucia and My Search for Madeleine.

Do you have a story? Contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es

1 Comment

  1. Good to see independent reporting refuting the “Official” Spanish Tourism cover up about “Warning Flags Flying”, when all on site witnesses deny that fact.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Previous Story

The Rock says ‘sorry’

Next Story

The Pearls of Aphrodite

Latest from Granada

Go toTop

More From The Olive Press

2 bedroom Apartment for sale in Almunecar with pool garage - € 270

2 bedroom Apartment for sale in Almunecar with pool garage – € 270,000

Apartment Almuñécar, Granada   2 beds   1 baths €

Pictured: Snow in southern Spain leaves Sierra Nevada with thick coat of the white stuff

IF there’s one positive to come out of the adverse