Updated 10.52 | Published 10.50
Three boys have died after getting into trouble while swimming at a beach near Tarragona in northeastern Spain.
The incident happened on Friday at Arrabassada beach. A group of six boys jumped into the sea from cliffs despite a yellow warning flag due to strong waves.
Three of the boys managed to get back to shore on their own, while the others were picked up by rescue personnel.
A 12-year-old boy died at the scene despite resuscitation attempts. Two 13-year-old boys were taken to hospital in critical condition but later died.
Catalonia’s regional president Salvador Illa expressed his deep sadness at the deaths and wrote on the X that “there are no words in such a moment of grief”.
The city of Tarragona has declared three days of official mourning.
