A 29-year-old British man is missing since Monday afternoon after the boat he was travelling in overturned at Santa Clara dam in Ourique, Beja.
According to reports, the man was one of four Brits in a “banana-type boat” that overturned at the dam, but while the others made it to dry land the man never reappeared.
Local fire chief Mário Batista explained that the banana boat was being towed by a vessel, thought to be a speedboat carrying another six Brits.
Authorities were warned about the accident just before 5pm. Divers have been searching for the man but thus far he hasn’t been found.
Meantime, two other men have been found dead by divers at Portuguese dams after going missing on Sunday.
Bruno Antunes was a 17-year-old from Tondela who was with his mother and a co-worker at the Aguieira dam in Santa Comba Dão, Viseu.
According to eye witnesses, he was swimming when he suddenly “panicked, screamed for help and quickly disappeared”.
A tourist who saw the young man in peril jumped into the water with a buoy but was unable to find him. It took firefighters a few hours before they were able to locate his body.
His mother witnessed the tragedy and had to received psychological support from INEM workers.
The other case involved 44-year-old entrepreneur Hugo Oliveira who was driving a jet-ski when he lost his balance and fell in the water. His body was also found hours later by divers.
michael.bruxo@algarveresident.com
