British father and son drown in sea during Spanish holiday

Jonathan Wells, 45, died after going into the sea to save his 75-year-old father, Robert, who was swamped by huge waves.

Both men were dragged under in the rough sea at Almuñécar, in Granada, Andalucía, yesterday. Two local men dived in to try to save them, and rescue workers in a small launch fought to reach the Britons, but could not get to them in time.

They were dead when they were pulled from the water at about 4pm yesterday on El Tesorillo beach. Thought to be from Cobham, Surrey, they had been staying with friends in a nearby villa.

Today, Jesus Balderas, 25, told how he tried to save the men but was forced back by the size of the waves. He said: "The older man went in first and he was drowning, then the younger man went in to try to save him but he couldn't get out either.

"I got in to try to save them but the old man was already in real trouble, he wasn't even calling for help by then. I did my best but gave up when it became impossible.

"Another man got in to try to help but he could do nothing either and ended up swimming to a floating platform because he was in danger himself."

An unnamed man who runs a bar on the beach told a local newspaper the authorities had failed to put out a red flag warning people not to enter the rough seas, which were accompanied by strong winds. But Spanish police said red flags were flying on the small sandy beach, 50 miles east of Malaga.

The beach, which is just 80 yards long and 50 yards wide, is protected on both sides by large rocks. It is popular with snorkellers.

Cecelio Fajardo, head of the local Civil Protection rescue team, said: "We sent out a launch which had great difficulty reaching the two men because the sea was so violent. We were only able to bring the bodies back to the beach."

A post-mortem examination will be carried out. A spokesman for the Civil Guard police said the seas had been "exceptionally strong", adding: "Red flags were flying at the beach instructing people not to enter the water."

A spokeswoman for the town hall in Almuñécar said: "Our thoughts are with the dead men's family. They were on holiday, staying with friends, who were not on the beach at the time."