Two British doctors drown trying to save their children’s lives

Uma Ramalingam, 42, and her relative Barathi Ravikumar, 40, were pronounced dead after the incident off the coast of Playa Paraiso on the Canary Island on Sunday.

A third woman, 38, survived along with the two children, aged 10 and 14, after being pulled out of the water by rescuers.

Colleagues yesterday paid tribute to Mrs Ramalingam, from Altrincham, Cheshire, and Dr Ravikumar, a partner at the Heath Surgery, Bracebridge Heath, in Lincoln.

Dr Ravikumar, a mother-of-two, was described as “a hard-working and dedicated GP” who “always worked in the best interests of patients”.

A statement on her surgery’s website said: “During her short time with the practice she was passionate about making a difference to healthcare in Lincolnshire and specialised in working with Looked After Children.

“Dr Ravikumar will be sorely missed and leaves behind a husband and two children.”

In a joint statement, Dr Mohammed Zubair Qureshi, Dr Ashfaq Qureshi and Dr Rama Srinivasan, partners at the Heath Practice, added: “It is with great sadness and shock that our practice has learned of the 
tragic death of Dr Barathi Ravikumar, a hardworking and dedicated GP.

“She always worked in the best interests of patients and was a wonderful colleague and friend for over three years. She will 
be greatly missed by us and all our sincere thoughts and 
condolences are with her family and friends at this very sad 
time.”

A former colleague of Mrs Ramalingam, who worked as a consultant obstetrician at the Royal Oldham Hospital’s women and children’s unit, paid tribute to the “fantastic doctor”. Olubusola Amu, consultant and clinical director of Women and Children Services at the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We are greatly saddened to hear the death of Uma, who had been working for the trust for about six years.”