Four British children were being comforted by relatives today after watching their parents drown in a tidal whirlpool while on a beach holiday in the Algarve.

Bob and Debbie Fry were sucked into the sea yesterday as they attempted to save their children, Rosie, 11, and George, nine, who had become trapped in strong currents while swimming off a sandy cove at the most south-westerly point of Europe.

The children survived after another man dragged them from the sea, but their parents died in the rescue attempt.

When the parents, from Wootton Bassett near Swindon in Wiltshire, began to struggle, their friend Jean Dinsmore also waded into the waves. Mrs Dinsmore - whose children Lydia, 11, and Alex 9, were at the beach - also drowned.

A fourth adult, a German tourist, successfully pulled his son onto the beach, a popular surfing spot known as Praia do Tonel, but died from a heart attack.

Relatives of the Fry children are understood to have flown to Portugal this morning to comfort them. Rosie and George received counselling at the nearby Hospital do Barlavento Algarvio last night, where they were being treated for hypothermia, and are today understood to be in the care or Mrs Dinsmore's husband, Roy.

Neighbours of the victims spoke of their shock this afternoon and described the parents as friendly, joyful people. Fiona Shaw, who had been looking after the Fry family's cat and goldfish while they were away, said that Mr and Mrs Fry were "two of the friendliest people".

She said: "They were great. Bob was just a big smile, always friendly and willing to have a chat. It would be fair to say they were the perfect neighbours."

Mrs Dinsmore, an accountant, coached the local netball team, a close friend said.

Local maritime police today said that the beach was not overseen by lifeguards because the summer tourist season had ended.

The coastguard last night recovered the bodies of the three British holidaymakers as Iselda Gomes, the civil governor of the Algarve, described their deaths as one of the biggest tragedies to have hit the region.

The Fry and Dinsmore families had been on the beach with Dean and Susan Plumb when the children got into difficulty at about 5.30pm. They were among a group of about five children aged between 6 and 12 who had been playing in the sea. Mr Plumb was treated in hospital but his injuries are not believed to be serious.

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