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A family vacation in Portugal turned into a tragedy when a British man died after saving his two young daughters from being swept out to sea.

Trevor Pelling, 45, rushed into the water about 2 p.m. Thursday when he saw his girls — ages 9 and 12 — struggling amid heavy currents at Calada Beach in Encarnacao, The Sun reported.

But the dad tragically suffered a cardiac arrest after pulling them to safety.

Pelling was brought back to shore by surfers, where a nurse who happened to be at the scene unsuccessfully tried to resuscitate him.

First responders arrived to help, but the father of two was soon pronounced dead.

The National Maritime Authority said in a statement that Cascais Maritime Police officers and officials from the SeaWatch project were immediately sent to the location using an Amarok vehicle.

“Three volunteer firefighter ambulances from Ericeira and two emergency and reanimation medical vehicles from Torres Vedras were also mobilized,” it said.

“Upon arrival at the site they found a man had been pulled out of the water by two surfers, he had gone into cardiac arrest and a nurse who was at the scene had begun to perform life-saving techniques which were then continued by the firefighters,” the authority continued.

“Despite their attempts to resuscitate him, it was not possible to reverse the situation and he was declared dead at the scene,” it said.


  Pelling tragically suffered cardiac arrest after pulling his children to safety. Facebook Pelling tragically suffered cardiac arrest after pulling his children to safety. Facebook

The two children were taken by ambulance to Lisbon’s Santa Maria Hospital in stable condition, the agency added. It is unclear if the girls swam back to shore themselves or were rescued after being pulled out of the current by their dad.

Cascais Maritime Police Chief Pualo Agostinho said there were no lifeguards on the beach because the service doesn’t start until June 12, The Sun reported.

“The two girls got into difficulties and their father tried to save them. He managed to get them to safety but he got into difficulties himself and sadly ended up dying after being pulled out of the water by two surfers,” Agostinho said.

“I don’t know if he was unable to swim or couldn’t swim well,” he added.


  Calada beach in Barril, Portugal. Alamy Stock Photo Calada beach in Barril, Portugal. Alamy Stock Photo

The Abu Dhabi-based financial consultant worked for deVere Acuma, the UK’s Mirror reported.

“The deVere family is devastated by the tragic passing of Trevor. We knew him as a great, generous and talented colleague,” DeVere Group CEO Nigel Green said in a statement to the outlet.

“We also know him as a true hero. We send our deepest condolences to his family,” he added.


  Trevor Pelling was on a family vacation. Facebook Trevor Pelling was on a family vacation. Facebook

An Instagram account under Pelling’s name includes two pictures snapped the day before the tragedy — one showing the sea with the sun setting in the distance.

“Portugal was a gateway back to the UK but family time here great wine, amazing views and lovely chilled way of life has totally grabbed me,” it reads, the Mirror reported.

“I can see myself returning here time and time again,” it added.

 

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