AN IRISHMAN has died in Portugal while on holiday with his family. The man (36) died while on a boat-trip with his wife and parents. He is said to have jumped into the water for a swim after visiting sea caves near the popular resort of Albufeira.
A Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman confirmed last night a man had died while on holiday with his family. “The Embassy in Lisbon are offering any assistance they can to the family.”
Witnesses told police the man disappeared under water before apparently getting into difficulties moments later. The incident happened at about noon on Saturday.
He was taken to Albufeira marina where a medical emergency response team was on standby, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. He had been on a family holiday in the nearby resort of Vilamoura.
Local maritime police have launched an investigation. A spokesman said: “The dead man is a 36-year-old Irish man. He was on an organised boating trip with close family, including his parents and wife. They’d been to see some caves along the coast before stopping for a dip in the sea.
“The incident happened as he jumped into the sea for a swim. He was transported to Albufeira marina by a faster, smaller boat on board the larger boat he’d been travelling on.
“But all the paramedic team who had been alerted could do was to certify his death at the scene. Tests are still being carried out but we understand the victim had suffered heart problems in the past.
“While we are still investigating, it may be he suffered a heart attack caused by an underlying heart condition. It is obviously a terrible tragedy for the man’s parents and wife, who were on the boat with him.”
The police spokesman concluded that he was not aware of any children being there.