Briton who drowned in Portugal with man who tried to save her was pregnant

A BRITISH woman who drowned off a Portuguese beach was four months pregnant, it was reported today.

The 33-year-old was pronounced dead after surfers brought her ashore, along with a 34-year-old British man who died after rushing into the sea to try to save her, police said.

The incident occurred at about 2.30pm yesterday at Zambujeira do Mar on Portugal’s south-west coast.

Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha reported the unnamed woman was pregnant.

Maritime Police chief Rui Pedro Silva Filipe said: “I believe they were in Portugal on holiday with a group of friends. It appears the man went to the woman’s aid when he saw she was in difficulties and was holding onto a rock.

“He reached her but it was when they were coming back to the beach that they disappeared from view. Local surfers went to their aid and got them out of the water to a small area of sand near the main beach, but by that time they had already gone into cardiac arrest.”

Officials described the sea yesterday afternoon as a “little bit rough”, and the beach has no lifeguard service after September 15.

Locals have warned of the Zambujeira Rip current in the area near where the tragedy occurred.