Siblings Ameiya Del Brocco, 13, and Ricardo Junior, 11, drowned after being swept away by powerful rip currents at a Spanish beach resort, as their father was pulled from the sea himself whilst desperately trying to save them.
The brother and sister, known affectionately as Maya and Jubs, had insisted on going for “one last swim” at Llarga Beach in Salou, Catalonia, on Tuesday evening before tragedy struck. The Birmingham family had been on their first major holiday abroad when the children were dragged 100 metres apart from each other in the churning waters.
Emergency services were called at 8.47pm on 29 July after the siblings got into difficulty in the sea. Despite the best efforts of rescue teams, both children died at the scene whilst their father, Ricardo Senior, 31, had to be resuscitated after swallowing “a lot of sea water.
Mother Returns from Toilet to Find Family Missing
The family from Erdington, Birmingham, had been staying at the four-star Hotel Best Negresco with their six children during the summer holidays. The fatal swim came towards the end of their vacation when the siblings begged for one final dip in the Mediterranean.
Shanice Del Brocco, 31, had taken one child to the toilet along with three other children whilst her husband stayed at the beach with Ameiya and Ricardo Junior. When she returned, the trio were nowhere to be seen.
“She came back out, she couldn’t see any of them. At that point, she panicked. And it was at that point the police arrived and things started happening,” the children’s aunt, Macalia Del Brocco, 46, told the Daily Mail.
Rescuers Reveal Terrifying Current Strength
One of the police officers who jumped into the water described the devastating power of the currents that separated the siblings. Officer Younes A told DiariTots21 that despite entering the sea at the same place, the boy and girl were ripped 100 metres away from each other.
“A hotel worker was trying to get one of the three out of the sea when we arrived,” he said. “We took off our belts with our clothes and threw ourselves into the sea.”
The officer explained how they first helped rescue one person before being told two minors remained in the water. “We tried to locate them, saw bits of clothes and seconds later were able to locate and get a young girl out of the water and began resuscitation.”
Lifeguards Had Finished Shift 48 Minutes Earlier
José Luis Gargallo, head of Salou’s local police force, revealed that lifeguards at the beach had finished their duties at 8pm, 48 minutes before the emergency call came in. The lifeguards are on duty at the beach where these British youngsters died until 8pm. They started work at 9.30am,” he said.
The police chief described the exceptional conditions that evening, stating: “The sea was rough, and people sometimes underestimate its power – especially in this area, which is usually very calm. Ninety per cent of the time, there is no danger on that beach, and it is considered an ideal spot for swimming. But Tuesday was different.”
Seven medical ground units and a team of psychologists were deployed to support the family. Local police, the Mossos d’Esquadra, and firefighters all responded to the emergency.
Mother Prevented from Seeing Children’s Bodies
The family faced additional anguish when Shanice was reportedly kept “in the dark” about her children’s fate. According to Macalia, the grieving mother was told she couldn’t see Ameiya and Ricardo Junior until midday the following day.
When the appointed time arrived, she was again prevented from seeing them “because the paperwork wasn’t sorted,” Macalia claimed. Shanice finally managed to see her children on Thursday, supported by her sister and mother who had flown in from the UK.
“Shan wasn’t allowed to see any of them even though they were in the hotel. So she’s been isolated, not being told anything, but just to wait,” Macalia said.
Father Faces Lasting Trauma
The psychological impact on Ricardo Senior, who witnessed his children drowning whilst trying to save them, has been devastating. Macalia explained: “Ricardo is feeling, obviously, very pained because he was in the water with them, so that’s going to be hitting him hard.”
“That’s not going to disappear from his mind. It’s going to be a lot of trauma mentally for him to deal with. But families pull together, and there will be support all the way around.”
The family’s six-year-old son Casius told his aunt after his siblings‘ deaths: “Did you know Maya and Jubs are in heaven now? Juby went to heaven in a helicopter.”
GoFundMe Raises £30,000 for Repatriation
A GoFundMe campaign set up by the children’s cousin Holly Marquis-Johnson has raised almost £30,000 to help bring the siblings home to Birmingham. The fundraiser surpassed its £15,000 target with more than 1,300 donations within days.
“During what was meant to be a joyful family holiday in Salou, Spain, Ameiya and Ricardo Junior, lovingly known to their family and friends as Maya and Jubs, heartbreakingly lost their lives in a tragic incident at sea,” Holly wrote.
“Two beautiful, bright, and deeply loved children, taken far too soon. The pain their family is feeling is unimaginable.”
Siblings Remembered as ‘Beautiful and Bright’
Loved ones have paid tribute to the siblings who shared an unbreakable bond. Aunt Kayla Jasvinder Del-Brocco described Ameiya as “athletic, driven, motherly with her siblings, sarcastic and unique.”
“Ricardo Junior was kind, loving and helpful,” she said. “He wanted to be a YouTuber and would do anything for a few quid. He doted on his mum.”
Holly Marquis-Johnson added: “Maya was intelligent, thoughtful, and growing into a strong young woman. Ricardo Junior was playful, kind, and always smiling. They brought so much love, laughter, and energy into the lives of everyone around them.”
Deaths Mark 16th Fatality on Catalan Beaches
The siblings’ deaths brought the total number of beach-related fatalities in Catalonia to 16 since the summer season began on 15 June – five more than during the same period last year. Just hours earlier, a 54-year-old German tourist had drowned at nearby Cap de Sant Pere beach in Cambrils.
Catalonia’s Civil Protection agency issued a reminder to beachgoers: “If you notice that someone is unwell or has difficulties in the water, you should urgently notify the lifeguard service or call 112 to facilitate their rapid action.”
A minute’s silence was held outside Salou town hall on Wednesday in honour of the British siblings. The family now faces a two-week wait for the children’s bodies to be repatriated to the UK.
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