Husband claims his wife drowned at Spanish beach when lifeguards didn’t help because ‘she wasn’t waving hard enough’
Andy Dudhill says four lifeguards stood by and refused to help when his wife Julie got in trouble at a beach in Alicante
SPANISH lifeguards claimed a drowning woman was not in danger - because she "wasn't waving hard enough", her widower told an inquest today.
British mother Julie Dudhill, 57, slipped under the waves and died despite husband Andy pleading with four lifeguards that she needed help.
The couple were enjoying a surf and beach holiday in Alicante on the Costa Blanca when Julie was "overcome" by the current.
Andy, 51, said he dashed out of the sea to seek help from lifeguards on the busy beach - only for them to dismiss claims that she was struggling in the water.
Despite his pleas to four lifeguards and Julie calling for their help from the sea, they still did not react.
He said the lifeguards "seemed to think she was not in danger"; and even "suggested that if she was having difficulties she would be waving her arms about more".
It wasn't until panicked Mr Dudhill attempted to rescue his wife by entering the water that one lifeguard was prompted to take a "leisurely swim" out to the drowning woman.
Tragically, by then it was too late and project manager Julie could not be saved despite first aid efforts on the beach.
Electrician Mr Dudhill of Fleet, Hants, criticised the lifeguards at the resort, where he and his wife had holidayed before.
RELATED STORIES
He told an inquest in Basingstoke, Hants: "We are keen beach-goers and surfers, and have been for 18 years or so.
"It's always been a choppy beach with a few waves but nothing that we felt was too dangerous.
"About 4pm or 4.30pm we went down for one more swim. We usually go where people are swimming and after about 20 minutes we decided to get out.
"I turned around and literally she was just behind me as we were getting out but in that short space of time afterwards she had difficulties getting back to the shore line and she said to me she was having difficulties.
"She was calling out and luckily in front of me were two lifeguards and I was nearly out so I quickly went up to them and told them she was getting into difficulty.
"They asked if she was a good swimmer and I told them, yes she's a good swimmer but would not be calling out if she didn't need help.
"They didn't react and stayed on the shore line. They suggested to me that if she was having difficulties she would be waving her arms about more.
"By that time, which felt like five minutes later, two more lifeguards turned up and she was waving at them but they were under the impression she was okay.
"They seemed to think she was not in danger despite what I was saying to them. She was calling out to them, I can't understand why they didn't react faster.
"I could see the lifeguards were not doing anything so I went in but one of them called me back.
"Then one of the lifeguards took a leisurely swim out to her and then the next thing I know the lifeguard is saying she needs oxygen.
";By the time they brought her back I just knew it was too late.
"She was brought back to the shore line, they gave her CPR and an ambulance was called but it seemed to take an age to turn up and they worked on her for about half an a hour or 45 minutes - by then it was already over."
He added: "It's dreadful from the lifeguards, especially when it's on a crowded beach.
"I can't understand why it happened with four lifeguards there. It's bizarre as she's a strong swimmer and medically fit, but it shouldn't have happened."
Coroner Andrew Bradley said: "It's an incredibly sad situation which I can only express my deepest sympathies for.
"It's an irreversible loss which is sadly not going to change."
Verdict: accident.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368