Two British tourists, Patrick Tobin and Tomasina Tobin, have died in a hot tub accident at a holiday villa in Cullera, Spain.
The couple, aged 48 and 51, were found unresponsive in the spa pool by their teenage children after they stopped making contact with their family.
According to a report by news outlet PerthNow, the husband and wife had arrived at Villa Luna on August 22 to start a two-week holiday. They were scheduled to return home to Great Britain on September 6.
Concerns grew when the couple stopped responding to messages, prompting their 14-year-old and 16-year-old children to travel to the rented villa. Upon entering the property, the teenagers discovered both of their parents motionless in the water of the hot tub.
A source close to the investigation stated that one of the spouses became trapped underwater by the strong suction force generated by the hydromassage mechanism of the jacuzzi. The second spouse subsequently lost consciousness and died while making a desperate effort to rescue their partner.
Resort owners await investigation results
The two teenagers who discovered their parents suffered severe psycho-emotional trauma as a result of the tragic event. Relatives have since stepped in to take care of the children.
The villa where the accident occurred is part of the Colina del Sol resort in Cullera. Representatives and owners of the resort complex stated that they are waiting for the completion of the official investigation before making further statements.
Coastal resort location in Spain
Cullera is a coastal town and municipality situated in the province of Valencia on the eastern coast of Spain. Located approximately 38 kilometers south of the city of Valencia along the Mediterranean Sea, the town is a frequent destination for summer holidaymakers, featuring beachfront properties, vacation rentals, and hillside tourist resorts.
Hydromassage spa pools and private hot tubs utilize motorized pumping mechanisms to pull water through drainage openings and recirculate it through hydrotherapy jets. Suction entrapment can occur when a body part or hair becomes held against a suction outlet by the force of circulating water.
Official inquiries ongoing
Local authorities in Spain are carrying out an official investigation into the incident to determine how the machinery operated and why the suction levels became dangerous. Further updates are expected once forensic and technical inspections of the spa pool equipment are concluded.
