Two women died after going into the sea to help a child in trouble off Callantsoog in Noord-Holland on Tuesday afternoon.
A 39-year-old British woman, who had been missing overnight, was found dead on the beach at Groote Keeten, north of where the group ran into difficulty. A 26-year-old woman from Gelderland died on Tuesday after being pulled from the water and given CPR.
The two women went to the aid of a child who was at risk of drowning at about 4.30pm and then got into trouble themselves, broadcaster NOS reported. The child and another swimmer were brought ashore by the lifeguard service and taken to hospital for checks.
The alarm was raised at the Voordijk beach entrance, between Callantsoog and Groote Keeten. Four KNRM lifeboat stations took part in the search alongside the lifeguard service, the coastguard and police, using boats and helicopters from surrounding areas.
The search was called off shortly after 9pm on Tuesday because of the tide and resumed on Wednesday morning.
Police are not investigating the circumstances further, regional broadcaster NH reported. Neither woman has been named.
