A holidaymaker helped to save the lives of four drowning children in Portugal but could not rescue his wife or friend who had also dived in to help their young ones, an inquest heard yesterday.
Three holidaymakers died in the Algarve water while trying to rescue three of their children and a German teenager, who were all sucked out to sea by the current.
Robert and Deborah Fry, aged 53 and 49, respectively, and their friend Jean Dinsmore
, 43, from Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, died saving the youngsters from the swell off Praia do Tonel – a beach notorious among surfers for its powerful waves.
Mr Fry and his wife were holidaying in Portugal with Roy Dinsmore, his wife Jean, and a third couple, Dean and Susan Plumb.
Rosie Fry, 11, Sam Plumb, 12, and Harry Plumb, six, had gone back into the water for a paddle when they were caught up in the rising current.
Mr Dinsmore, 48, who was supervising the trio, ignored his own risk and fought to guide them to calmer waters, as well as helping out a German girl. She was eventually saved by her own father who died of a heart attack after the incident at the resort near Sagres in October 2007.
Mr Dinsmore lost his grip on his wife's hand as the waves broke over him.
Verdicts of misadventure were recorded in all three cases at the inquest in Swindon, Wiltshire.
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