UK doctor drowns in Canary Island rescue bid

A consultant obstetrician is one of two women who drowned off the coast of Tenerife after reportedly getting into difficulty as they attempted to rescue their two children swept out by a wave.

Uma Ramalingam, 42, is thought to have been on holiday with her relative, Barathi Ruvikumar, who also died in the incident.

The women were pronounced dead after the tragic incident off the coast of Playa Paraiso on the Canary Island yesterday.

It was widely reported that a third woman, aged 38, survived along with the two children, after being pulled out of the water by rescuers.

A former colleague of Mrs Ramalingam, from Altrincham, Cheshire, who worked at the Royal Oldham Hospital’s women and children’s unit, paid tribute to the “fantastic doctor”.

Olubusola Amu, consultant and clinical director of Women and Children Services at the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We are greatly saddened to hear the death of Uma, who had been working for the trust for about six years.

“She was a fantastic doctor who brought a lot of hope to the high-risk women attending the women and children’s unit at the Royal Oldham Hospital.

“This is a terrible shock to everyone who knew Uma. Our thoughts are with her family at this sad time. She will be sorely missed.”

A Guardia Civil spokeswoman said: “It appears that the two women were dragged into the sea by a wave yesterday at around 6pm in Playa Paraiso, Adeje.

“We can confirm that both were British and both were relatives, although we are not certain how they were related at the moment.”

A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: ’We can confirm the deaths of two British nationals in Tenerife on April 6.

“We are in touch with the authorities and are providing consular assistance with the families.”