Tragedy as two British siblings, 11 and 13, drown in front of their father while swimming off Spanish beach

The brother, 11, and sister, 13, drowned off Llarga beach in Salou, Tarragona, on Tuesday night.

Their father, who was also in the water with his children, was rescued alive and was reported to have made a desperate attempt to save them.

He remains in hospital after being pulled from the water unconscious, it was reported.

The 112 emergency service operator first received a call at 8.47pm, sparking and large response and saw paramedics from the Medical Emergency System being sent to the scene alongside a team of psychologists to assist the grieving family.

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Catalonia's Civil Protection said in a statement: "The father of the minors, who had also entered the water, was rescued alive.

"These are the 15th and 16th fatalities on Catalan beaches since the summer campaign officially began on June 15, a figure that already exceeds by five those registered in the same period last summer (11).

"The emergency telephone number 112 received the warning at 8.47pm. Seven land units of the Medical Emergency System (SEM) intervened in the incident, as well as a team of psychologists activated by the same service to assist the relatives."

Catalonia’s Civil Protection agency initially said two brothers died, but Jose Luis Gargallo, the head of the local police force in Salou, later said it was a brother and sister.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Mr Gargallo told reporters: “There were three people who were having serious difficulty getting out of the sea.

"There was a father with his son and daughter, of British nationality.

"When they got out, both of them, the boy and girl, aged 11 and 13, showed no signs of life.

"Attempts were made to resuscitate them with CPR, but they were unsuccessful.

"The father, fortunately, was able to be saved. He had swallowed a lot of water, he was exhausted, very fatigued, but the father was able to be saved thanks to the emergency services."

The British family involved are understood to be staying at the Hotel Best Negresco.

Yellow flags, which urges bathers to be cautious when swimming, had been erected throughout the day on Tuesday on some beaches.

A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: "We are supporting the family of two British children who have died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities."