British woman drowns while rescuing granddaughter in Menorca

A British woman, aged 69 or 70, drowned while attempting to rescue her 10-year-old granddaughter at Cavalleria Beach in Menorca. The incident occurred around 1:00 PM during the family’s final day of vacation.

The child had been using an inflatable float when strong northern winds and currents caused her to drift toward a rocky area, causing the inflatable to overturn. The victim successfully brought her granddaughter to safety, but was unable to save herself. The victim’s husband and daughter also attempted rescues; the husband was hospitalized with cuts sustained during the effort, while the daughter and child were treated for panic attacks.

Because the local lifeguard service had concluded its season on October 15, no professional lifeguards were on duty at the time. The Civil Guard is investigating the incident and will submit a report to a local court. Initial assessments classify the event as an accidental tragedy.