British tourists drowning an “absolute tragedy”

Two women drowned after misjudging rough seas during a night-time swim on a Spanish beach, a coroner has said.

Tracey Aston, a 32-year-old mother of two, had been with four friends on the beach at Lloret de Mar, on the Costa Brava in Catalonia, after a night out.

The Birmingham hairdresser had appeared to “fall down” into the water before one of her friends Lisa Coggins, 35, tried to save her.

Both women drowned in the tragedy during the early hours of 1 October last year.

Coroner Louise Hunt recorded a verdict of accidental death due to asphyxia for both women and called their deaths an “absolute tragedy”.