The grieving son of a British woman who died while attempting to save her granddaughter from the sea in Menorca has condemned the lack of beach safety measures in a heartbreaking letter.
Teresa Ford, 69, died after wading into the sea when her 10-year-old granddaughter’s inflatable overturned in strong currents last Wednesday at Cavalleria Beach on the island’s north coast.
Mrs Ford’s daughter-in-law and granddaughter were saved by a hero passerby who used a rope to help them reach safety, while her husband John sustained injuries after being smashed against rocks while trying to help his family.
No local lifeguards were at the beach at the time of the incident because the service had closed just days before for the autumn and winter months.
Now, Mrs Ford’s son Andy, who was not at the beach that day, has hit out at the local council, saying his mother’s death could have been prevented.
In an open letter to the local municipality of Es Mercadal’s mayor Joan Palliser, Mr Ford said: ‘I believe my mother’s death could have been prevented, and my family needs to understand why there was no one there to help.
‘According to what my family observed, there were no signs on the beach warning of rip currents.’
In the letter, he also asked if the local council was aware of the dangers posed by currents there and whether it had taken into account that beachgoers would be swimming in the sea at the end of October.
Teresa Ford (pictured) drowned last week at a beach in Menorca in an attempt to save her granddaughter from a current
He also asked whether the council was aware that signage about the end of lifeguard services was in place; and whether warnings had been issued or displayed about the strong winds forecast for that day.
‘Teresa did what any good grandmother would do upon seeing her granddaughter in danger, try to save her,’ he said in his open letter, and added that his daughter blames herself for her grandmother’s death.
‘Every member of my family who was in the water must now live with the fact that they survived while my mum did not. My daughter is ten years old, and she is already saying that it was her fault.’
Detailing how the tragedy unfolded, Mr Ford said his mother, father, daughter, and wife were in an area of the beach where Mrs Ford could stand ‘comfortably’.
But within a matter of moments, he said his mother could no longer touch the bottom.
‘Recognizing the signs of a rip current, she immediately told everyone to head back to shore, but it was already too late.
‘My father managed to push my wife toward the rocks before the current swept him away.
‘My mother, seeing this from the shore, went into the water to help, despite having an injured shoulder and a hip replacement, and despite not being a strong swimmer.
‘My wife managed to reach my daughter and get her onto the rocks. Afterwards, she could only watch as the current carried my mother away. My parents were swept toward the rocks further along the beach. My father survived. My mother did not.’
In his statement, Mr Ford went on to thank a Good Samaritan, who he said saved his wife and daughter by wading out to them with a rope he found near the dunes.
‘My wife handed our daughter to him and told him to leave, but he refused to go until he had also managed to rescue her,’ Mr Ford wrote.
‘We don’t know who this hero was, nor how to find him.’
He added that his father John does not remember how long he was in the water, and he believed his daughter-in-law and granddaughter had died.
‘The only person he thought was safe was my mother. When he was finally able to stand and saw her lying on the shore, he couldn’t comprehend it. They had been married for 45 years.’
Mr Ford says he has yet to receive a response from local authorities to his letter.
The horrible tragedy happened around 1pm last Wednesday in Menorca (File image)
His family would have turned 70 in December, and her family had been preparing a celebration for her milestone birthday.
Mayor Mr Palliser said after last week’s tragedy: ‘Our thoughts go out to [the family] at this time. It’s terrible what’s happened.
‘To be there enjoying yourselves on what I’m told was the last day of their holidays, relaxing on a beach, and have something like this happen, is awful.
‘That beach is pretty exposed to northern winds and the wind was blowing hard that day, and there were currents.
‘I suppose the tourists not knowing the area well and not being aware of things like the currents there were a factor in what happened.’
It is not yet clear whether the British family remain in Menorca or have returned to the UK.
The Civil Guard police force said last week it was leading an ongoing investigation into the incident and would present a report to a local court.
Cavalleria Beach is a large undeveloped sandy beach with crystal-clear waters, split by a rocky formation.
It is heavily exposed to the Tramontana north wind, which can cause strong waves, currents, and blow sand. Travel reviewers say it is best visited on days with a southern wind.
