There were no lifeguards on duty on the Algarve beach where Wootton Bassett couple Bob and Deb Fry and friend Jean Dinsmore drowned.

They died while trying to save children after they got into difficulties.

Andy Cooper, director general of the Federation of Tour Operators, said: "Europe is a lot less inclined to put lifeguards on beaches compared to Australia."

He said he was unsure if having more people on duty would be practical, especially out of the summer season.

Mr Cooper added: "The danger of lifeguards is that people become dependent on them. The sea is a dangerous place and people should take care themselves, understand the risks and have the best information available to them."

The Frys were among a number of parents who dived into the sea off Sagres on the south west coast of Portugal yesterday afternoon to save a group of youngsters who had got into trouble.

In all, four adults died during the rescue attempt - the Frys, a family friend and a German tourist, it is believed.

Three children were reported to have suffered minor injuries during the incident after they were thrown back on to the beach.

But it is believed that during an attempt to reach them, a number of adults became trapped by strong currents.

The Foreign Office today confirmed that two children have been left without a father and a mother and two children have been left without a mother as a result of the tragedy.

A further three adults required hospital treatment and one of them, a father, remains in hospital but is reported to be out of danger.

The names of the dead Britons have not been confirmed by official sources.

The commander of the local maritime police, Pedro Pereira, revealed that the Tonel beach in the resort town of Sagres, where the tragedy occurred, was closed for the winter and signs warned bathers that there were no lifeguards on duty.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Yesterday afternoon at 1650 local time, three British and one German family are at the Tonel beach in Sagres, on a sunny and clear-sky day, when some of the children ran to the water near by a rock in the middle of the beach.

Do you know Salgres? We'd like to hear from you...

Contact us below "Suddenly they called for help and their families' adults with some other people nearby ran to rescue them from the sea.

"There are some currents and some deep waters that caused them to get into distress.

"They asked for help and all the families that are with them, they ran to help them, also some people that were close by.

"Some parents did not find a way to rescue their sons and also to rescue themselves."

He added: "The final outcome of this tragic situation is four parents dead.

"Because summer season is concluded by September 3, the Tonel beach is closed and there is no life-saving personnel. Reinforcing this, at the entry to the beach there is a sign to warn of this fact.

"As the local commander for this rescue operation, as soon as the distress was known, the necessary staff have been directed to proceed to the beach, namely the medical emergency, life-saving boat, firefighting ambulance, the maritime police, the search and rescue air force marine helicopter, as well as local civil protection resources.

"For the families in mourning I wish to stress my sorrow and compassion.

Life continues and despite difficult times to come, good luck to all their seven children that are well."

A Foreign Office spokesman said last night that the British ambassador in Portugal has been in touch with the civil governor, and the British consul in Portimao is travelling to the area.