‘In heaven now': Heartbreaking words of six-year-old after siblings, 11 and 13, drowned on ‘last swim' on Spain holiday
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A DEVASTATED six-year-old whose siblings drowned on a "final swim" in Spain has spoken about how the pair have gone to "heaven".
Ameiya Del Brocco, 13, and her younger brother Ricardo Junior, 11, tragically died on Tuesday while on holiday at Llarga beach in Salou, near Tarragona.
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The children were in the water with their dad when tragedy struck
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Ameiya and Ricardo Junior tragically drowned off the coast of Spain
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Their aunts have paid tribute to the pair, pictured here when they were younger, saying they 'adored each other'
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The siblings, known as Maya and Jubs, were enjoying a family holiday with their parents and four other children.
Six-year-old Casius, who was also on the trip, is now trying to make sense of the unimaginable tragedy.
Casius is said to have told his mother: "Did you know Maya and Jubs are in heaven now? Juby went to heaven in a helicopter".
The heartbreaking words were told to the Daily Mail by his aunt Macalia Del Brocco after Ricardo Jnr was airlifted to hospital.
Macalia said: "So that's his understanding of it, which is bittersweet, because that was what he saw.
"And it's beautiful that he thinks that's what happened, but very sadly tragic at the same time."
She said Ameiya and Ricardo Jnr had asked for a final swim on Tuesday after spending the day on the beach and before returning to the hotel for the night.
But the children got into trouble while swimming, with their dad going into the water afterwards to try and save them and being overwhelmed himself.
Emergency crews were called and pulled the trio from the water with Ricardo Snr unconscious having swallowed water.
She said Ricardo Jnr was airlifted to hospital while medics desperately tried to save the father and daughter at their hotel.
Boy, 17, dies on beach after being buried alive in hole in sand he dug
Sadly, the two children could not be revived, but Ricardo Snr pulled through despite swallowing a lot of water.
Macalia paid tribute to her niece and nephew from Erdington, Birmingham.
She said of Ameiya: "She is very, very athletic. Very determined individual. When she wanted something she was adamant she was going to get it. She was very as a character, she was very sarcastic and humorous."
While she said Ricardo Jnr would do "anything" to earn a few extra quid.
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Emergency services rushed to the scene - no lifeguards were on duty when the children drowned
Credit: Solarpix
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Ricardo Jnr was taken to hospital as emergency services desperately tried to save him
Credit: Solarpix
Macalia said: "Junior loved doing odd jobs. Frequently in the neighbor's garden, doing her hedges for her, just to earn a few extra quid. He was quite the Dell Boy."
A GoFundMe page has been launched to support the grieving family, set up by cousin Holly Marquis-Johnson to cover the costs of repatriation and funerals.
Holly wrote: 'During what was meant to be a joyful family holiday in Salou, Spain, Ameiya and Ricardo Junior, lovingly known to their family and friends as Maya and Jubs, heartbreakingly lost their lives in a tragic incident at sea.
'Two beautiful, bright, and deeply loved children, taken far too soon.
"The pain their family is feeling is unimaginable.
'This fundraiser has been created to help ease some of the financial burden the family is now facing, covering the costs of bringing Maya and Jubs home to the UK and giving them the dignified farewell they deserve.
'We know that no amount of money can make this right. But together, we can help carry some of the weight.'
The children's GoFundMe appeal has already raised more than £30,000 of its £15,000 target.
Ameiya and Ricardo's haunting final photo showed them smiling on the sand just hours before the tragedy.
Local officials confirmed a yellow warning flag was flying at the time to signal rough sea conditions.
But lifeguards had clocked off at 8pm — with the alarm raised just before 8.50pm.
A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: 'We are supporting the family of two British children who have died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.'
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