Children will be children. The adults in this situation are the parents. It's a tragedy. Period. Blame and pointing fingers does absolutely nothing for anyone. Not the children, not the parents. It's a sad story to be told. Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living.

C O'Brien, Altadena, USA/California

To HG in London, judging from your comments, as a child, you obviously where the freak of nature that always did as they where told. I hope with your attitude, that you have never had children or at least I hope you don’t intend to. Those poor children are only 9 and 11; since when do children that young see real danger? Children of that age are oblivious to the world around them; they just want to have fun and enjoying life through innocent eyes. Now the unfortunate reality is they have to live life without their parents, and yes they might have not listened but does that mean they should be blamed and condemned with the guilt? No. Their parents died through their own actions. They took their children to a beach that is unsafe (with warning signs) and with no life guards. As unfortunate as this event is, it is the parents own fault, not the children. I only pray for the childrens future that they have people around them that are a little more supporting than yourself.

R.Clark, Godalming, Surrey

A dreadful tragedy. Those poor parents, what a nightmare. As callous as this is, the question crying out to be asked is why the heck didn't the children do as they were told and keep out of the sea? Reading this story, it just sounds like another dreadful example of the typical disobedience that is rife in children nowadays. A man spoke to them, they came back onto the beach whilst he was there, then when his back's turned and they can sneak off to do what *they* wanted to do - with no consideration for anyone else - they go back into the sea. And this catastrophe happens. What will it take for children to stop believing the world revolves around them and to obey adults?

HG, London, UK

My heart goes out to the families involved and particularly the children who potentially will feel for the rest of their lives that they are to blame for their parents' deaths.
Rebecca, Cambridge, UK

But they are. Unpopular, distasteful, cruel whatever to point it out. But the children who refused to listen to the warnings are to blame.

Michael W., London, UK

Julia in Santa Rosa,
If a lifeguard is absent you should assume that a beach is not safe unless you know for sure otherwise. But there were two signs on this beach : one a triangular sign with the word "Perigo" in large letters and underneath it the english translation " Danger" in equally large letters. In addition there was a rectangular sign explaining flags, fauna and flora. No flag? don't go into the water - it's common sense. This terrible event resulted from lack of experience and also arrogance. The group had been warned and ignored the warning as if locals didn't know what they are talking about. Unfortunately, no one can save people from themselves. It is true that there are no lifeguards on most California beaches but having witnessed a drowning off San Gregorio I wouldn't even wade, let alone swim in any that doesn't have a rescue unit on site. If you want to do it it's at your own risk.

Ana P. , Philadelphia, USA

Have a heart. It's happened, and realistically things can happen to the most careful family. It's an awful situation and myy thoughts go out to everyone involved.

NG, Henley on Thames, UK

Very very sad. However, why when they knew it was unsafe were they in the water and why didn't their parents stop them going in.

I am afraid a lot of these tragedies could be averted if people did not disobey instructions.

Ella, Bristol, England

Oh this is so sad. So terrible. I really hope that the families can recover from this. We have picture signs here in Northern California to show you the dangers of the surf. Not only tourists, but sometimes locals get sucked in and drown every year. It doesn't always look dangerous, especially at low tide. It's really unrealistic to think that any beach without a lifeguard is not a wading beach. Even the safer beaches along the California coast rarely have lifeguards. I don't think a lifeguard or "signs in english" would have made much difference in this situation. They had a verbal warning from somebody on the beach with them. Thought they could go in one last time and it didn't work out happily. What a total bummer. I really hope they will recover from this.

Julie, Santa Rosa, CA usa,

Having grown up living next to the sea, practically on the beach, I remember every summer at least one or two kids being swept out to sea because of currents. When the weather is hot and families are on holiday, they forget all sense, and have less fear of the sea than if they were at home while the kids play around a garden pond. It was ingrained in us how dangerous the sea is, and to watch my father and friends go off searching for little bodies every summer made sure I'd never forget.

James, Reading,

My grandfather, a sailor, gave me a good piece of advice before he passed away.

Never trust the sea.

wil thompson, wolverhampton, uk

Whilst it may be 'common sense' in the US that a beach without a life guard is not a swimming beach, that is not necessarily the case in Europe. Not all of our beaches routinely have life guards.

I feel terribly sorry for this family. Perhaps there needs to be a more general education programme on the dangers of swimming in the sea. I am not sure people generally understand that you can be swept out so dreadfully when you are not even out of your depth.

RK, London,

My heart goes out to the families involved and particularly the children who potentially will feel for the rest of their lives that they are to blame for their parents' deaths. I am sure they will go over and over the "what ifs". The problem is that we all make mistakes - some we get away with and some we don't. I am sure we have all felt the feeling of "there for the grade of god (or whomever) go I". I just hope that all invovled find the strength to learn to live with the trajedy so that their lives and potential are not forever blighted.

Rebecca, Cambridge, UK

Terrible tragedy which could have been easily avoided if the parents had been more carful and vigilant with their children. The irony is that they were the ones to perish in such awful circumstances

Robert, London, UK

There is one other comment which seems obvious (and terrible for its implications): even though there were reportedly no signs in English, the children were expressly told in person how dangerous it was and to stay away. If they didn't listen to someone telling them personally to get out of the sea, and why this was so important, would passive, official signs in English have really persuaded them? As an Australian who repeatedly sees/hears of foreign tourists going in for a swim despite gigantic signs clearly warning (with pictures) against crocodiles, poisonous aquatic life, etc., it is heartbreaking that some people just don't seem to take heed of danger until it is too late.

Trina Cairns-Mell, Rosebud,

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

Chris is this clear enough?

Henrique, Prague,

This was an altogether avoidable tragedy. There are millions of deceptively beautiful beaches in the world. Riptides, uneven sea floor and other features make the great majority of them them treacherous. Even to be near the water but not in it can kill you when a wave sucks or slams you even in shallow waters and under clear skies . Common sense tells us that if there isn't a lifeguard on duty that is not a swimming or wading beach. To put signs up on every feature of every natural danger is not just undesirable but impossible. Common sense is what is needed. Sadly, common sense is impossible to enforce. This tragedy is an example of it.

ana p. , philadelphia, usa

.....allowed to happen.

KW? Who allowed this to happen?

Sam , Swanage, UK

All tragedies are avoidable. That's what makes them tragic. It seems a very common theme in these posts that people judge and criticise rather than empathise. It is one of the reasons why we live in a broken society.

Claire, Herts,

I know this part of the Algarve well. The currents can be treacherous and large waves are not uncommon, thus its attraction for surfers. I would certainly not have let my kids go swimming on that beach when the surf was up. I speak from experience. Having almost drowned (young and stupid) on a Cornish beach 20 years ago by being caught in an undertow, I know just how frightening it must have been. My sympathies.

Bob H, Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

If this beach is this dangerous and it is common knowledge why the hell arent there signposts in various languages warning tourists.
In Australia there are many dangerous waters but most beaches have lifeguards and safety flags making swimming about as safe as it can be, in fact no-one has ever drowned swimming between the flags.
This terrible tragedy reminds us yet again that the Ocean must be respected at all times.

Chris, Brisbane, Australia/Queensland

This is an horrific story. Extremely sad. This is the Atlantic Ocean, not the local swimming pool.

Neil, Gloucestershire, England

Just like a cockney to criticise a scouser.

Nigel Wroe, Doncaster, Yorkshire

Just like a scouser to put the boot in. Most tragedies are avoidable to some extent.

It's extremely sad yes, i'm not sure what more comment other than that is necessary at the moment

Matthew, London,

Yet another avoidable tragedy. Extremely sad, but it really should never have been allowed to happen,

KW, Wirral , uk