Brit, 41, swept to his death by strong current at popular Portuguese beach
A BRITISH man who drowned after being swept out to see by a horror current at a pristine Portuguese beach has been remembered as a "beautiful person" by his brother.
A surfer tried to save the Paul Calow, 41, after seeing him dragged out to sea by strong currents, but he died at the scene.
The tragedy occurred around 3pm on Wednesday at Sao Pedro de Moel beach near the town of Nazare, north of Lisbon, which has become famous for its giant waves.
Paul's brother Dale, who runs a business north of Benidorm, said: "Ginge (nickname) was a beautiful person. Please remember his eyes and smile. Please remember my brother. You will never find another ginge.
“I already miss him.”
Dale confirmed rumours that his brother had been receiving treatment at a drug rehab centre when he tragically drowned.
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Dale said: "My brother struggled with his mental health and he struggled with a problem with sleeping tablets.
“He also struggled in the end with a drug problem. He struggled because he wanted to please everyone.
“He struggled hugely with his mental health because he had a huge heart. He was my brother. He was my best friend. He was on the mend. No rumours. He didn't take his own life, he was buzzing to prove to everyone he was the old Paul, he was my Paul.
“He would jump through hoops for you. If he had a euro and you needed two he would borrow one."
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A Dutch national believed to be around the same age, who was with the Calow, was taken to hospital after also getting into difficulties, but managed to get out of the water.
Local maritime police chief Joao Lourenco confirmed a 41-year-old foreign man had died after “being swept away by currents” at the beach.
Overnight, Portugal’s National Maritime Agency confirmed the dead man was British.
They said in a statement: “A British man aged 41 died on Wednesday afternoon after getting into difficulties at Sao Pedro de Moel beach.
“There was no lifeguard service at the beach at that time.”
Local reports said the dead man, who has not been named, was part of a group of recovering addicts who were being treated at a nearby drug addiction clinic and made regular trips to the beach as part of their therapy.
Over the weekend, the Portuguese Federation of Lifeguards (FEPONS) warned of the “high risk of drowning” given the high temperatures and the end of assistance to bathers on most beaches.
It also revealed 60 people drowned in the first six months of the year - less than the same period last year when there were 68 deaths but higher than the average of the last six years.
In January, a British teenager drowned after being caught up in a rip current while swimming with friends on a Portuguese beach.
The 19-year-old and two pals got into difficulties during a dip off a small sandy beach on the Costa da Caparica coastline south of Lisbon.
The beach the unnamed teenager got into difficulties off is just over an hour south of Calada Beach north of Lisbon where British financial consultant Trevor Selling, 45, drowned in June last year.
He was trying to save his two daughters when they got into difficulties because of the strong current.
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Earlier this summer, a British tourist died while swimming in his Algarve hotel pool.
Respected Portuguese daily Correio da Manha said the unnamed man was found in the water in “cardiac arrest.”
