Dad drowns trying to save son washed out to sea

A British tourist and his son drowned off the coast of the Spanish island of Majorca, after the parent who could not swim made a doomed attempt to rescue his child.

George Selby, 27, died on Saturday as he tried to prevent son Louis being swept out to sea off Cala Antena beach, a small bay close to the resort town of Calas de Mallorca on the southeast of the popular tourist island.

In a statement issued by Britain's Foreign Office, Christine Selby said her son and grandson were “loved by all that knew them.”

“My son George Selby died trying to save his son Louis Selby. George was passionate about his wife Abigail and their three sons,“ the statement read.

Christine Selby asked for privacy to “grieve for our devastating loss of a truly heroic husband, father, son, brother. And Louis our little bear.”

The family, including two sons from Mrs Selby's previous relationship, and her niece, had only arrived in Majorca the day before the tragedy.

Britain's Daily Mail newspaper reported that the boy was standing on a stairway cut into rocks overlooking a small deserted cove when he was washed out to sea by a large wave.

His father dived in to try to save him.

Lifeguards from a nearby hotel failed in their attempts at a rescue.

Witnesses said they saw Mr Selby shouting for help from the sea, waving his arms in the air.

Local reports suggest Mr Selby had been taking pictures shortly before.

Mr Selby's best friend, Graham Klerks, told the Daily Mail that Mr Selby and his young son were very alike.

"George going out into the sea to rescue Louis is him down to a tee," he said.

"The tragic thing is that George could not swim but I honestly can't imagine him standing by the side and watching his son drown."