The holiday of a family of six turned into a tragedy at a beach near Rethymno in Crete as the two parents drowned in their attempt to save two of their children.

The 35-year-old father Venizelos Stratakis and the 35-year-old mother Katerina Kanavaki were killed during the rescue attempt at around 9 pm on Tuesday.

According to reports, the family had camped at the beach of Geropotamos when the parents realized that two of their four children who were swimming, a little boy and a little girl, were in danger and were calling for help.

The couple rushed into the sea, but they never re-emerged. Bathers managed to save the two children but were unable to locate the couple.

Their bodies were found an hour later.

Greek Reporter