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Portuguese President Swims Out To Sea And Rescues Two Struggling Women

Portuguese President Swims Out To Sea And Rescues Two Struggling Women

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was photographed helping the two women get their kayak back to the beach

Rebecca Shepherd

Rebecca Shepherd

The Portuguese president has helped to rescue two women who came into difficulty while kayaking in waters close to an Algarve beach.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, 71, jumped into action as he saw the kayakers had capsized and were struggling in the water.

The President explained how the women had been caught in the current before being swept out to sea on Saturday (15 August) off the Praia do Alvor beach.

President de Sousa was enjoying a holiday in the region in a bid to boost the country's tourism sector, following on from the coronavirus pandemic which swept across the globe.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa speaking to reporters after the incident.
RADIOTELEVISAO PORTUGUESA

He told local media: "As there is a very large west current, they were dragged out, turned around, swallowed a lot of water and were not even able to turn [the kayak], nor to climb [on it], or swim, such is the strength of the current."

The President, who underwent a minor heart operation last year, was not alone during the rescue mission and called another man on a jet ski a 'patriot'. Very humble indeed - what a LAD.

Speaking to journalists on the beach, he turned his attention to the UK opening an 'air corridor' with Portugal - meaning that people returning to the UK would not have to self-isolate for two weeks upon their return.

The President helping the women.
RADIOTELEVISAO PORTUGUESA

He asked: "In the current situation, even more than a week or two or three ago, no one understands why the British air corridor does not open. I mean, if it doesn't open now, when does it open?"

According to Publico, he went on to explain that it's not possible to 'wait for zero cases' because 'no country will have zero cases', adding that what is being shown in Europe is an 'opposite evolution' to what is being experienced 'at this moment of stabilisation in Portugal'.

PA

When he was asked whether or not a second wave of Covid-19 cases existed, President de Sousa replied: "What is called a second wave is the same wave, with ups and downs, and at this moment with a high, as happens with other countries in Europe, who 'were low' and 'now are experiencing high'."

Last week, President de Sousa promised to visit every borough of the Algarve in a bid to stimulate tourism, believing that Portugal was treated 'very unjustly indeed'.

Featured Image Credit: RADIOTELEVISAO PORTUGUESA

Topics: Inspirational, Portugal, Community