Briton Drowns 'In Front Of Family' In Lanzarote

A British woman died swimming in the sea off Lanzarote while her husband and three children were on the beach, it has been reported.

The woman is understood to have got into difficulty off the shore of the Spanish holiday island, according to local newspapers.

The website for the publication Diario de Lanzarote said the woman, aged 49, drowned off Famara Beach, on the north side of the Island.

The website said the Emergency and Security Co-ordination Centre received a 112 call at 3.39pm on Thursday reporting that a woman had been brought out of the water with "signs of drowning".

The report said there were fears she could have suffered a heart attack.

Emergency services were sent to the scene and attempted to resuscitate the woman but she could not be revived.

According to eyewitnesses, she was on the beach with her husband and three children, the website said.

Responsibility for the death was handed over to court officials. The victim has yet to be named.

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said: "We are aware of the death of a British national in Lanzarote on 15 August. We are providing consular assistance to the family at this difficult time."

If confirmed, the death would be the second involving a British national to occur on Famara Beach in a few months.

In April, a British man died on the beach after getting into difficulties in the sea.

Steve Potter was spotted face down in the water after leaving friends on the beach to go for a swim.

The 43-year-old was dragged out of the water unconscious, according to reports, but he was pronounced dead after efforts to revive him failed.

Meanwhile, a body found in Lanzarote in May was confirmed as that of a British pensioner who went missing on the island in 2011.

Margaret Holt, 65, from the Wirral, Merseyside, was seen leaving her hotel in the resort of Costa Teguise, on the south side of the island, on the morning of December 23, 2011.

The experienced walker, who was feared to have fallen, was spotted later in the afternoon in the northerly Orzola region of the island - but then disappeared.

Mrs Holt, who was described as extremely fit, was reported missing after her worried family contacted the Spanish Civil Guard to raise the alarm when she failed to make contact with them over Christmas.

A search and rescue operation was launched by authorities on the island, but was stood down after 72 hours. Local expatriates and other residents organised their own searches for her.