Tragedy Strikes as Siblings Drown During Family Holiday in Spain
A brother and sister from Britain who drowned off the coast of northeastern Spain have been identified as 13-year-old Ameiya Del Brocco and her 11-year-old brother, Ricardo Junior.
Their father, Ricardo Senior, who had also entered the water, was rescued by emergency responders following the incident, which occurred during a family trip to Salou, a coastal town in Catalonia, on Tuesday.
Ameiya, called Maya by her family, and Ricardo Junior, known as Jubs, were described as “two beautiful, bright, and deeply loved children, taken far too soon,” according to their cousin, Holly Marquis-Johnson. “The pain their family is feeling is unimaginable.”
She added: “Maya was intelligent, thoughtful, and growing into a strong young woman. Ricardo Junior was playful, kind, and always smiling. They brought so much love, laughter, and energy into the lives of everyone around them. Their absence has left an unbearable silence not just for their parents, but for their whole family, who were incredibly close.”
Kayla Jasvinder Del-Brocco, the children’s aunt, recounted how her niece and nephew were caught by strong currents while swimming. “They went into the water with their dad because they loved the beach. Their mother told them not to be long and took their younger sibling to the bathroom. When she returned, she couldn’t see anyone. That’s when the nightmare began.”
According to Catalonia’s civil protection agency, emergency teams were called to Llarga beach near Tarragona shortly after 8:45 p.m. local time on Tuesday. Ricardo Senior was hospitalized after being pulled from the water unconscious.
Jose Luis Gargallo, a local police official in Salou, stated: “Three people were struggling in the sea—a father and his two children, both British nationals. When they were brought out, the boy and girl, aged 11 and 13, showed no signs of life. Efforts to revive them were made but were unsuccessful.”
He continued: “Thankfully, the father was saved. He had swallowed a lot of water and was exhausted, but emergency responders were able to help him.”
A government spokesperson confirmed that officials were supporting the family and liaising with local authorities.
Marquis-Johnson has started a fundraiser to assist with bringing the children home.
Read next
"Softball booms in Brazilian city as Cuban migrants surpass Venezuelans for the first time"
Roberto Hernández Tello, 59, originally from Camagüey, Cuba, had hoped to reach the United States for a better future. But due to stricter immigration policies under the previous U.S. administration, he found himself in Curitiba, southern Brazil, thousands of miles from home.
Like him, many Cubans have recently arrived
"Public asked to aid in catching drug gangs using 'mother ships' near UK shores"
Police Ask Coastal Residents to Aid in Combating Drug Smuggling
Authorities have called on residents of coastal areas in the UK to assist in disrupting criminal groups that are employing increasingly creative tactics to bring large amounts of cocaine into the country.
Officials have noted a rise in “at-sea drop-offs”
"Germany's historic largest gay nightclub files for bankruptcy"
Germany’s longest-running and largest LGBTQ+ dance venue has filed for bankruptcy after operating for nearly 50 years, succumbing to financial pressures and shifting trends in Berlin’s nightlife.
Internal challenges and the rise of dating apps contributed to SchwuZ’s difficulties over the past year. In May, the venue