Briton missing in Portugal sea after being thrown from banana boat in holiday horror

Local fire chief Mario Batista later told local press the missing man was on the inflatable with three other Britons who were being towed by a vessel thought to be a speedboat carrying another six Britons.

A search by specialist fire service divers at the large Santa Clara Dam near the city of Ourique, just over an hour’s drive north of the Algarve resort of Portimao, was suspended at nightfall yesterday.

It was due to resume around 8am local time today.

The missing man has not been named but respected Portuguese daily Jornal de Noticias described him as the one of the nine guests of the son of a wealthy Briton who had bought several properties in the parish of Santana da Serra with access to the dam’s east side.

The newspaper said the gates to the private property where the Brits were staying remained closed yesterday/on Monday and none of the holidaymakers or the owner had made any comment about what had happened.

The search operation involves a team of divers from the Special Firefighters Force (FEB) and police.

Medical specialists are on standby in case the missing man is found.

Santa Clara Dam was once the largest artificial lake in Portugal and is a popular destination for fishing enthusiasts as well as fans of water sports.