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Holidaymaker drowns rescuing grandsons from sea in Crete

A holidaymaker has died after saving his two grandsons from being swept out to sea off Crete.

The 61-year-old Scottish man reportedly drowned in difficult waters after rescuing the two boys.

The Foreign Office said it was supporting the family of a British man who had died in Crete and was in contact with the Greek authorities.

The incident happened at Gouves beach in the north of the island.

Locals, including two waiters, also jumped into the water to help the man and his two grandsons.

The boys were taken to hospital where they were treated for minor injuries.

The Cretapost website reported that life jackets were thrown to the man.

A local worker said: “We tried to pull him ashore but the currents were very strong and we could not.”

Anthee Carassava, a journalist based in Athens, told BBC Radio’s Good Morning Scotland programme the man had been on holiday with his wife, daughter and two grandsons at the resort.

“They simply went off for a swim and the two young boys, aged 7 and 10, ran into some choppy waters.

“The grandfather got very upset and unnerved and he went in, tried to save them. He managed to pull them out of these choppy waters… but in his bid to actually reach these rocks along the beach he simply got exhausted and it was impossible for him to get out.”

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