The son of a 69-year-old British grandmother who drowned while attempting to rescue her granddaughter from strong sea currents in Menorca has questioned why adequate beach safety measures were not in place when the tragedy occurred.
Teresa Ford died last Wednesday after entering the water at Cavalleria Beach on the island’s northern coast to help her 10-year-old granddaughter, whose inflatable had overturned in the sea.
Her son, Andy Ford, has since written an open letter to Joan Palliser, mayor of the local municipality of Es Mercadal, arguing that his mother’s death could have been prevented and demanding explanations about the absence of lifeguards and warning signs.
In the letter, he said his family needed to understand why nobody was available to assist them and questioned whether authorities had adequately communicated the dangers posed by strong currents.
Family Caught in Dangerous Currents
According to Andy, his parents, wife and daughter were initially in an area where his mother could stand comfortably.
However, conditions changed within moments, leaving the family struggling against the current.
He said his mother recognised the danger and immediately instructed everyone to return to shore, but the situation had already become difficult.
His father, John, managed to push his daughter-in-law towards the rocks before the current swept him away.
Teresa, who had an injured shoulder and a hip replacement, entered the water to help her family despite not being a strong swimmer.
Meanwhile, Andy’s wife managed to reach their daughter and get her onto the rocks.
She was then unable to do anything as the current carried Teresa away.
Both grandparents were swept towards rocks further along the beach.
John survived, but Teresa drowned.
Passerby Rescues Granddaughter and Daughter-in-Law
Andy credited an unidentified passerby with saving his wife and daughter after the family became trapped in the water.
He said the man found a rope near the dunes and entered the sea to help them reach safety.
According to his account, his wife handed their daughter to the stranger and urged him to leave, but he refused to abandon her until he had successfully rescued her too.
Andy said the family did not know the identity of the man or how to contact him to express their gratitude.
He also explained that his father could not remember how long he had spent in the water and had believed that his daughter-in-law and granddaughter had died.
John had thought Teresa was the only family member who was safe.
However, when he eventually managed to stand and saw her lying on the shore, he struggled to understand what had happened.
The couple had been married for 45 years.
Granddaughter Blames Herself for Grandmother’s Death
In his letter, Andy described the emotional consequences of the incident for his family, particularly his 10-year-old daughter, who has reportedly blamed herself for her grandmother’s death.
He said his mother had acted as any grandmother would when confronted with the danger facing a grandchild.
Andy added that the family members who survived the incident would have to live with the knowledge that they made it out of the water while Teresa did not.
He said his daughter was already expressing feelings of guilt over what happened.
Questions Raised Over Lifeguard Absence and Warning Signs
Andy also questioned why there were no local lifeguards stationed at Cavalleria Beach when the incident happened.
The lifeguard service had reportedly ended just days earlier as part of the seasonal closure for the autumn and winter months.
He asked whether the municipality knew about the dangerous currents at the beach and whether officials had considered that visitors would continue swimming in the sea towards the end of October.
His letter also sought clarification on whether signs informing visitors about the end of lifeguard services had been displayed.
Additionally, he questioned whether beachgoers had been warned about the strong winds forecast for the day of the incident.
Andy said his family had not observed any signs warning about rip currents.
He confirmed that he had not yet received a response from the local authorities.
Mayor Comments on Weather Conditions at Cavalleria Beach
Mayor Joan Palliser expressed sympathy for the family following the incident, describing the tragedy as terrible.
He said the family had reportedly been enjoying their final day of holiday on the island when the incident occurred.
Palliser explained that Cavalleria Beach is particularly exposed to northern winds and that strong winds and currents were present on the day Teresa died.
He also suggested that visitors unfamiliar with the area might not have understood the dangers associated with the local sea conditions.
Family Had Been Preparing for Teresa’s 70th Birthday
Teresa’s death came just weeks before her 70th birthday in December, with her family already making preparations to celebrate the milestone.
It remains unclear whether the British family are still in Menorca or have returned to the United Kingdom.
Spain’s Civil Guard police force confirmed last week that it was investigating the incident and would submit a report to a local court.
Investigation Continues Into Menorca Beach Drowning
Cavalleria Beach is a large, undeveloped sandy beach on Menorca’s northern coast, known for its clear waters and rocky formations.
The beach is particularly exposed to the Tramontana, a strong northerly wind capable of generating powerful waves, dangerous currents and blowing sand.
Travel reviews of the location recommend visiting when southern winds prevail, as conditions can be less favourable when the Tramontana is blowing.
