Two women, aged 32 and 52, died on Sunday while trying to save a five-year-old boy who fell into the water at the Baños de Cerrato dam in Venta de Baños (Palencia). The child was rescued by fishermen and is in good condition.
The events occurred around 18:30 when the 112 emergency service received a call that the boy was drowning in the Pisuerga river. The two women, the child's mother and grandmother and residents of Palencia city, jumped into the water to rescue him but died during the attempt.
Government subdelegate in Palencia Eduardo Santiago confirmed the boy was found by fishermen next to a tree trunk and taken conscious to Hospital Río Carrión de Palencia. His uncle was also evacuated to the same facility in a state of nervousness.
The Guardia Civil is investigating the circumstances of the incident. Santiago described the event as a tragedy that has shaken the province and expressed condolences to the family.