Two German vacationers drown on the French Atlantic coast near Biarritz

Two German holidaymakers drowned on the French Atlantic coast near Biarritz. A 53-year-old man who got into trouble while swimming was rescued from the water by a surfing instructor, the newspaper “Sud Ouest” reported, citing the rescue workers. Attempts to revive the holidaymaker on the beach failed.

The German may have been swept away by the current, as were other bathers who were able to save themselves. The man went swimming on Wednesday with his 16 and 19-year-old children, who suffered severe shock.

Beaches unguarded after summer holidays

A few hours later, an 80-year-old German man died on another nearby beach after apparently suffering a cardiac arrest while swimming and being discovered lifeless on the beach. The swimming accidents occurred on beaches that were no longer monitored by lifeguards after the end of the French summer holidays on Monday.

Rescue workers appealed to tourists to only swim on beaches where lifeguards are still present. Over 300 people have already drowned in France during the particularly hot summer, around 14 percent more than last summer.