The holidaymakers were hit by a freak wave and dragged into the sea while walking at the resort of Salgado beach, in the fishing village of Nazaré near Lisbon.
Neighbour David Mason from Hackney, north London told the BBC “I remember them bringing her home in her dad’s arms and they were such a happy family,”
“She was a very happy girl who would always say ‘hello Dave’ when she saw me. This is terribly sad news and for a lot of people it’s still sinking in.”
The paid were walking with Lara’s grandmother, who was the only survivor of the incident. She was reportedly pulled out of the sea by local fishermen.
Commander of the Port of Nazare rescue services, Alberquerque e Silva said “The grandfather was already dead when he was pulled from the sea and the INEM (National Institute of Emergency Medicine) team did their best to revive the young girl but to no avail,”
“The two victims, accompanied by the grandmother, had left the area of Salgada beach, which is under lifeguard surveillance, and went for a walk during which, we believe, they must have been knocked over and swept away by the waves.”
Main image: Nazaré in Portugal (Thinkstock images)
