This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/07/two-britons-drown-rescue-children-tenerife

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Two Britons drown trying to rescue children off Tenerife coast Two Britons drown trying to rescue children off Tenerife coast
(about 11 hours later)
Two British women have drowned while trying to rescue their children after they were swept away by a wave at a holiday resort in Tenerife. Two British doctors have drowned while trying to rescue their children after they were swept out to sea in rough waters off the coast of Tenerife.
The pair got into difficulties in the water at Playa Paraiso, to the south-west of the island, on Sunday evening. Hotel workers and tourists managed to rescue the two children, aged 10 and 14, and a third woman, 38, but were unable to save the other two. Uma Ramalingam, 42, and her relative Barathi Ravikumar, 39, were on holiday in the popular tourist resort of Playa Paraiso, in the south-west of the island, to mark the beginning of the Easter holidays when disaster struck on Sunday night.
The dead women were named on Monday as Uma Ramalingam, 42, a clinician at the Royal Oldham hospital in Greater Manchester, and Barathi Ruvikumar, 39. The five tourists are thought to have been staying at an holiday apartment in the coastal resort. Witnesses said the two women rushed into the ocean to rescue the two children, aged 10 and 14, but quickly got into difficulties near a rocky outcrop. Horrified onlookers managed to rescue the children and a third woman, 38, was winched from the sea by helicopter, but they were unable to save the two women.
Local emergency services said a helicopter, two ambulances, coastguards and firefighters were scrambled in an attempt to rescue the women. One onlooker told of how he rescued one of the children, a 14-year-old girl, and had been left shaken by the incident.
Adam Cramer, 49, an accountant from Mill Hill, north-west London, had just checked into a hotel overlooking the resort and was at the pool with his three children when he heard a woman yelling from the rocks beside the hotel. "A shout went out from a German lady screaming for help, about children in the sea in terrible trouble."
Cramer had been to the hotel several times before and knew the area. The hotel overlooks a rocky outcrop that juts into the sea, he said, and it was likely that the group had been swept into the water by a wave.
"The waves are always very rough, they come crashing in against the rocks. If you're stuck out on one of those you're going to struggle to get back."
Cramer rushed down to shore to help and spotted a young girl in the water next to the rocks. "Everyone was just standing there helpless because it wasn't possible to get anywhere close to the sea to get in and help her."
He waited for a big swell and dived into it. He made his way to the teenager, dragging her away from the rocks and out of the pull of the waves. "She was conscious, she was able to talk to me." Carrying her, he swam about 10 minutes down the coast, where the pair were able to clamber on to the shore with the help of a swim ring. By that time a helicopter and lifeboat had arrived to help pull the others out of the water, he said.
"I've got three great children. All I can see is the faces of those kids who lost their parents," he said.
Another witness, Borja Sánchez, of the Roca Nivaria hotel, ran down when he heard cries for help from the rocks that back on to the hotel.
The family, who he thought were staying at an apartment further down the beach, had wandered down a pathway into a rocky area popular with fisherman and sunbathers. Sánchez said a small wave had swept the children off the rocks and into the water. "And then the three women went after them."
As emergency crews were trying to revive one of the women, Sánchez heard someone yell that one person was still missing in the water. It was then that the rescue helicopter caught sight of the other woman.
"They rescued her and brought her to land. Sadly they couldn't revive her." The tragedy, he said, unfolded in less than 20 minutes. "It was a horrendous situation."
Emergency services said a helicopter, two ambulances, coastguards and firefighters were scrambled in an attempt to rescue the women.
The younger child was taken to hospital with suspected hypothermia, and the 14-year-old was treated at the scene for minor bruising.The younger child was taken to hospital with suspected hypothermia, and the 14-year-old was treated at the scene for minor bruising.
The third woman was treated in hospital for water in her lungs and is not believed to be in a critical condition.
Police and the fire brigade assisted in the emergency operation and the Guardia Civil is now investigating the incident, a spokeswoman said.
Colleagues of Ramalingam, a consultant gynaecologist originally from Chennai, India, paid tribute to her on Monday.Colleagues of Ramalingam, a consultant gynaecologist originally from Chennai, India, paid tribute to her on Monday.
Olubusola Amu, a consultant and clinical director of women and children's services at the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS trust, said: "Uma had been working for the trust for about six years. She was a fantastic clinician who brought a lot of hope to the high-risk women attending the women and children's unit at the Royal Oldham hospital. Olubusola Amu, a consultant and clinical director of women and children's services at the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS trust, said: "Uma had been working for the trust for about six years.
"She was a fantastic clinician who brought a lot of hope to the high-risk patients attending the women and children's unit at the Royal Oldham hospital.
"This is a terrible shock to me and everyone who knew Uma. Our thoughts are with her family. She will be sorely missed.""This is a terrible shock to me and everyone who knew Uma. Our thoughts are with her family. She will be sorely missed."
Others used Twitter to pay tribute to Ramalingam. Alison Blakeley, a midwife, tweeted: "Such sad news about Dr Uma Ramalingam. Fantastic doctor and lovely lady. RIP."
Ramalingam, who is understood to have lived in Altrincham, Cheshire, graduated from Tamil Nadu Medical University in Chennai in 1994 and registered as a doctor in the UK in February 2003. She registered as a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology in November 2009, according to the General Medical Council.Ramalingam, who is understood to have lived in Altrincham, Cheshire, graduated from Tamil Nadu Medical University in Chennai in 1994 and registered as a doctor in the UK in February 2003. She registered as a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology in November 2009, according to the General Medical Council.
Ravikumar was a partner at a surgery in Bracebridge Heath, Lincolnshire, where she was described as "a hardworking and dedicated GP" who "always worked in the best interests of patients".
A statement on the surgery's website said: "It is with regret that we have to inform you that Dr Barathi Ravikumar, a partner at the Heath Surgery, Bracebridge Heath, Lincoln, has been fatally injured in an accident while on holiday with her family.
"Dr Ravikumar joined the practice in 2011 and became a partner in 2012. During her short time with the practice she was passionate about making a difference to healthcare in Lincolnshire and specialised in working with Looked After Children. Dr Ravikumar will be sorely missed and leaves behind a husband and two children."
"Dr Mohammed Zubair Qureshi, Dr Ashfaq Qureshi and Dr Rama Srinivasan, partners at the Heath Practice, said: 'It is with great sadness and shock that our practice has learned of the tragic death of Dr Barathi Ravikumar, a hardworking and dedicated GP. She always worked in the best interests of patients and was a wonderful colleague and friend for over three years. She will be greatly missed by us and all our sincere thoughts and condolences are with her family and friends at this very sad time.'
"Lincolnshire West CCG and NHS England have been saddened by the news and their thoughts go to the family at this time. The CCG and NHS England will work very closely with patients and staff at the practice and offer them any support that they need. They have asked that the privacy of the family and practice staff is respected during this difficult time."
A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "We are aware of reports of an incident in Tenerife and we are in touch with the local authorities and providing consular assistance."A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "We are aware of reports of an incident in Tenerife and we are in touch with the local authorities and providing consular assistance."