Aquatic incidents involving UK citizens in Portugal

RESEARCH

A collection of 22 aquatic incidents involving UK citizens whilst overseas in Portugal. The ONS International Passenger Survey reported 2,037,000 UK citizens visited Portugal in 2019. The FCDO reported that only 1 UK citizen drowned in Portugal that year. That makes aquatic activity in Portugal one of the safest in Europe for UK citizens. However, 2022 reported the highest number of drownings for UK citizens in Portugal in more than 15 years. It remains to be seen whether 2022 signals a growing concern about the aquatic safety of UK citizens in Portugal. 

This article is part of a series on water incidents involving UK citizens whilst overseas. You can find other articles in this series using the search function. 

 

2023

The FCDO is yet to report drowning figures of UK citizens for 2023. We identified one water incident, a fatality, involving UK citizens in 2023. 

• A man, Paul Callow, 41, drowned in the sea at Sao Pedro de Moel beach, near Lisbon, at around 15:00 on Wednesday 4 October 2023. 

 

2022

The FCDO reported at least five drownings of UK citizens in 2022. We identified four water incidents, including four fatalities, involving UK citizens in 2022. 

• A man, 55, drowned in the sea at Praia dos Alemães, Albufeira, at around 13:30 on Thursday, 27 October 2022. 
• A woman, 45, drowned in the sea at Praia de Peneco, Albufeira, at around 13:15 on Wednesday, 21 September 2022.  
• A boy, 4, drowned in a swimming pool at Praia da Luz at 15:00 on Tuesday, 28 June 2022. 
• A girl, 4, drowned in a swimming pool at a villa in Lagos on Tuesday, 28 June 2022. 

 

2021

The FCDO reported no drownings of UK citizens in 2021. We identified two water incidents, including two fatalities, involving UK citizens in 2021. 

• A man, Trevor Pelling, 45, drowned in the sea at Praia da Calada beach on Thursday, 3 June 2021. 
• A girl, 2, drowned in a swimming pool at a villa in Albufeira at around 19:00 on Wednesday, 10 March 2021. 

 

2020

The FCDO reported at least one drowning of a UK citizen in 2020. We identified three water incidents, including no fatalities, involving UK citizens in 2020. 

• A woman, 53, survived a water incident at Albugeir's Galé beach on Thursday, 16 January 2020. 
• A woman, 53, and a second woman, 67, survived a water incident in the sea at Gale Beach Resort, Albuferia, at around 11:30 on Thursday, 16 January 2020. 

 

2019

The FCDO reported at least one drowning of a UK citizen in 2019. We identified two water incidents, including two fatalities, involving UK citizens in 2019.  

• A woman, Kim Fletcher, 33, and a man, Danny Johnson, 34, drowned in the sea at Praia da Zambuheira at around 14:30 on Sunday, 6 October 2019. 

 

2018

The FCDO reported at least six drownings of UK citizens in 2018. We identified one water incident, including one fatality, involving UK citizens in 2018. 

• A boy, Archie Skidmore, 5, drowned in a swimming pool at a villa in Amendoeira at around 16:50 on Saturday, 28 July 2018. 

 

2017

We identified zero water incidents involving UK citizens in 2017. 

 

2016

We identified three water incidents, including three fatalities, involving UK citizens in 2016. 

• A man, Leslie Gordon, 66, drowned at Praia de Mira beach, Coimbra at around 08:00 on Monday, 31 October 2016. 
• A boy, 2, drowned at a villa in Carvoeiro on Sunday, 12 June 2016. 
• A man, Nishanthan Gnanathas, 31, drowned in the Alges area of the River Tagus on Saturday, 16 July 2016. 

 

2015

We identified one water incident, including one fatality, involving UK citizens in 2015.  

• A woman, 50, drowned at Dragão Vermelho beach, Costa da Caparica on Saturday, 20 June 2015. 

 

2014

We identified zero water incidents involving UK citizens in 2014. 

 

2013

We identified zero water incidents involving UK citizens in 2013. 

 

2012

We identified two water incidents, including two fatalities, involving UK citizens in 2012.  

• A man, Brian O'Dwyer, 66, and a girl, Lara Lewis, 5, drowned in the sea at Salgado beach, Nazare, on Tuesday, 21 August 2012. 

 

2011

We identified zero water incidents involving UK citizens in 2011. 

 

2010

We identified zero water incidents involving UK citizens in 2010. 

 

2009

We identified zero water incidents involving UK citizens in 2009. 

 

2008

We identified zero water incidents involving UK citizens in 2008. 

 

2007

We identified four water incidents, including four fatalities, involving UK citizens in 2007. 

• A man, Bob Fry, a man, and a woman, Debrah Fry, drowned at the beach at Tonel at around 16:30 on Tuesday, 23 October 2007. 
• A man and a boy, 5, drowned at the beach at Mar Menuda in Tossa de Mar at around 11:00 on Wednesday, 21 November 2007. 

 

2006

We identified one water incident, a fatality, involving UK citizens in 2006. 

• A man, 53, drowned at a marina in Vilamoura on Sunday, 10 April 2006. 

 

2005

We identified one water incident, a fatality, involving UK citizens in 2005. 

• A man, 44, drowned in the sea at Cape of St Vincent on Saturday, 27 August 2005. 

 

Citation. Jacklin, D. 2022. Aquatic incidents involving UK citizens in Portugal. Water Incident Research Hub, 11 December; updated 16 December.