Brit dies in ‘superhuman effort’ to save life of two grandsons, 7 & 10, swept out to sea in Crete

 A BRIT grandad has died in a "superhuman effort" to save his two grandchildren after they were swept out to sea in Crete.

The 61-year-old was able to help his two grandsons aged, seven and ten years old, to reach the shore but wasn't able to make it himself.

A grandad died trying to save his grandchildren
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A grandad died trying to save his grandchildrenCredit: cretapost.gr
The two boys were swept out to sea
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The two boys were swept out to seaCredit: cretapost.gr
The grandad with the two boys went for a swim to Gouves in Heraklion
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The grandad with the two boys went for a swim to Gouves in Heraklion

The grandad, who was on holiday with his with his wife, daughter and two grandsons decided to go for an afternoon swim in Gouves, Heraklion, on Tuesday, amna.gr reported.

The children were swimming when they suddenly got swept by the strong waves.

The grandad immediately jumped into the water to save them but the trio struggled to get to the shore.

According to Greek Coastguard the hero 61-year-old tried to help the two boys but he didn't make it.

A lifeguard who was in the area was able to rescue the children while the grandad was trying to keep them on the water's surface.

Shocked onlookers who alerted the authorities, said the brave Brit made a "superhuman effort" to rescue his younger grandson after the older grandson managed to clamber over the rocks to safety "almost alone."Eyewitnesses said they saw the Brit falling "flat on his face" into the sea after managing to lift one of the children onto rocks. 

Once the boys were safe, a lifeguard attempted to rescue the grandad but it was difficult as he was trapped in raging waves near rocks, Skai reported.

A witness who worked nearby and rushed to help rescue the man told Cretapost: "We were trying to pull him out but the currents were too strong and we couldn't.

"With the help of the Coast Guard, the man's body was eventually retrieved and taken to the boat."

HERO GRANDAD

Hersonisos Vice President and emergency worker Manolis Kalaitzakis told Proto Thema: "Sadly the grandad of the children did not make it. We could have saved him if he could last a bit longer.

"It was the unfair part of the rescue.

"We made incredible efforts but he was so focused on saving the children that he died in the water."

Kalaitzakis described the horrific moment he spotted the grandad struggling to come to the surface.

"I was in the area and saw a lot of people gathered. It's not a beach because it's surrounded by rocks- it's not for swimming.

"I saw the children trying to reach the shore and the grandad struggling.

We made incredible efforts but he was so focused on saving the children that he died in the water.

Manolis Kalaitzakis Greek Emergency Worker

"They had a lifebuoy that got stuck in the rocks- I quickly threw it to them so they can reach it.

"The grandad was trying to show the children what to do but he couldn't make it.

"I could see him disappearing but we didn't have enough time to do anything.

"The man was struggling for a while until he was unconscious and got pulled into the sea.

"The grandad saw the people gathered and all the effort we made to save the children.

"I wish he could have hung in a bit longer so we could save him."

TRAGIC END

He added that swimming is banned at that particular location and it appears that the family were at a different beach but got swept by the currents.

An ambulance was waiting at the shore but the grandad was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sun Online has learned that an autopsy will be conducted on the 61-year-old although he is thought to have died as a result of drowning. 

"At least the grandad managed to see his grandchildren safe on land," witnesses told Crete TV.

His two grandchildren, who were in shock but not physically harmed, were taken to Venizeleio General Hospital in Heraklion.

"The kids are well. They have been kept at the hospital for purely precautionary and safety reasons so that laboratory tests can be conducted," said the hospital's governor Kostas Terzakis.

"They've had to get over their shock. We had to monitor them and see if everything was alright." 

A lifeguard was able to pull the two kids out of the water
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A lifeguard was able to pull the two kids out of the waterCredit: cretapost.gr
The man was pronounced dead at the scene
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The man was pronounced dead at the sceneCredit: cretapost.gr

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