Brit who drowned in Portugal is named as it emerges his wife only found out when she saw his body loaded into an ambulance
Leslie Gordon, 66, from Kidderminster, Worcs, was killed after being caught in rip current off Praia de Mira beach, Coimbra
A BRIT holidaymaker who drowned during an early morning swim off a picture-postcard Portuguese beach has been named as Leslie Gordon.
The 66-year-old from Kidderminster, Worcs, was brought ashore by fishermen after being caught up in a rip current at stunning Praia de Mira beach near the university city of Coimbra at around 8.30am yesterday.
Volunteer firefighters tried to revive him at the water’s edge after he was pulled from the sea but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
His grieving wife only learnt of the tragedy after leaving their nearby hotel to investigate the commotion and seeing Mr Gordon’s body being put into the back of an ambulance.
Maritime Police chief Carlos Isabel described the dead man as a “strong swimmer.”
He said: “According to witnesses we spoke to, he regularly went swimming in the mornings.
“He was a good swimmer. He was caught up in a rip current.
“His wife went to see what was happening and only discovered then that it was her husband who had drowned.”
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A local source said: “Fishermen saw him swimming early in the morning many times and said he looked like a strong swimmer.
“He was fighting against a current when he got into difficulties. He was able to swim to a small head of sand but was caught by the current again.
“Fisherman were able to rescue him and bring him to the beach and they were the ones who alerted the authorities, around 8.30am.
“Paramedics tried to revive him without success.
“His wife came out of their hotel nearby and was questioning people about what happened when she realised it was her husband’s body they were putting inside the ambulance. It was very dramatic.”
A 28-year-old woman drowned off the same beach just over a month ago after racing into the water to help another swimmer in difficulties who subsequently managed to reach safety.
Two surfers pulled her body out of the water.
Now the summer is over lifeguards no longer patrol the beach, known for its silky sand and striped fisherman’s chapel.
A lagoon on the other side of the beach is popular with holidaying families who hire paddleboats for their children.
The former fishing village also attracts many surfers.
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