The incident occurred on 6 October at 2.30pm according to the Beja District Relief Operations Command (CDOS).

According to the CDOS, the two victims were rescued from the sea and received resuscitation, however this was not sufficient to save either of them.

Rui Pedro Filipe, the local commander of the Sines Maritime Police told Lusa: “The 33 year old woman was in the water and got into trouble and was clinging to a rock which led to the man attempting to rescue her however as they attempted to return to the shore they disappeared into the sea.”

He added that the surfers in the area also “tried to help and were able to detect the bodies which they brought to the shore of a small beach south of Zambujeira do Mar”.

A helicopter was then used to move the victims to the main beach where they were “subjected to resuscitation” before being transported to Odemira Health Centre where they were both pronounced dead.

The bathing season for the beach ended on September 15 and no lifeguards were on the beach.