Shock at Portugal beach drownings

A five-year-old girl and her grandfather who drowned off a Portuguese beach have been named.The bodies of Lara Lewis and Brian O'Dwyer, 66, were pulled from choppy waters by fishermen in the tourist resort of Nazare, around 60 miles north of Lisbon.The girl's parents, Philip and Sian Lewis, live in Hackney and are said to be in a state of shock. It is thought Lara was walking with her grandparents along a sandy beach when they were all pulled into the sea by strong waves.Her grandmother was rescued off Salgado beach by local seamen and she was taken to hospital.Her parents Philip Lewis, a professor at University College London, and Sian Lewis are believed to have been sunbathing in the picturesque fishing village when the incident happened at around 2pm yesterday.Today, neighbours of the family in Hackney, east London, said they were shocked by the news and paid tribute to the family.David Mason, a translator, said he had known Lara since she was a baby.

Shutters were drawn across the windows of the home in Glenarm Road, where the family have lived for five years, and a man who answered the door said he was too upset to speak.

Mr Mason said Lara was due to start school nearby in September.

The bodies of Lara Lewis and Brian O'Dwyer, who was 66, were pulled from the water by Fishermen in the Tourist resort of Nazaray, around 60 miles North of the capital Lisbon.

It is thought Lara was walking with her Grandparents along the beach yesterday afternoon, when they were all dragged into the sea by strong waves.