The children of Bob and Debbie Fry and Jean Dinsmore, who died trying to rescue them off a treacherous stretch of the Algarve coast, were warned about the dangerous currents says a lifeguard.

The holidaymakers from Wootton Bassett drowned in waters off the south west coast of Portugal on Monday afternoon.

The adults rushed into the waves after their children got into difficulties, but while the youngsters were saved, the parents were caught out by the currents.

A German father died of a heart attack after saving his child.

Part-time lifeguard Daniel Salvaterra, who was not on duty, said he had warned the British youngsters to leave the water 15 minutes before they got into trouble.

Mr Salvaterra, 33, who runs a surf school on Tonel beach where the drownings happened, told the Times: "I was on the beach and saw the children out playing in the currents. the water wasn't very deep, just up to their waists but I went out and told them it was dangerous and they came back to the beach."

He added that 15 minutes later as he headed to his car he heard the trouble on the beach but by time he reached the shore the youngsters were safe and he could not help save the adults.

"The trouble is the guys who went out to save the children were trying to fight against the currents, which made them panic and get tired," he said.

The 33-year-old also told the Sun there were no warning signs to alert swimmers about the treacherous currents.

He said: "There are signs for everything else - no litter, no dogs, no camping - but nothing at all to warn about the water."

The Foreign Office confirmed the British casualties as Robert and Deborah Fry, 53 and 49, from Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire, and their close friend Barbara Jean Dinsmore, 43, known as Jean, who papers said lived nearby.

The Frys' children were named in reports as George, nine, and Rosie, 11, while Mrs Dinsmore and her husband Roy's are Alexander, nine, and Lydia, 11.

In a joint statement issued through the Foreign Office, the families of the three victims said: "Our priority now is to provide support to the bereaved children involved and ask that the media respect our privacy and that of our family and friends at this very difficult time."

Mrs Fry's brother Tim told the Daily Mirror: "Bob and Deborah absolutely adored their children and would do anything for them.

"They were both very loving, family-orientated people. I'm sure they would have gone into the sea to rescue other people's children if they had seen them in trouble.

"We are just in total shock."

There were no lifeguards on duty as the summer season had ended and the beach was closed.

Spaniard Jaime Revuelta told the Times how surfers tried to rescue Mr Fry after he saved his son from the water, but failed.

He said: "It was awful, absolutely horrible. I'll never forget the look on his face as we tried to get him from the water."

Neighbours of the deceased paid tribute to their friends yesterday with the Frys' next-door neighbour Fiona Shaw describing the couple as the "perfect neighbours".

She added: "Bob and Deb were just a hard-working couple who did the best for their children.

"They were great. Bob was just a big smile, always friendly and willing to have a chat."