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| Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa helps in a rescue operation in waters off Algarve beach, Portugal, Saturday (local time). Captured from the video |
By Park Si-soo
Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has helped rescue two women in difficulty at an Algarve beach after their kayak capsized, according to media reports.
The president, 71, was pictured on Saturday swimming over to the kayakers who were struggling in the water.
Video footage caught the moment he swam into the sea to help them. Another man was already there, trying to help turn the kayak over while a person on a jet ski also approached to offer help.
The man on the jet ski then managed to tow the kayak back to the shore.
Rebelo de Sousa later told reporters that the women had been swept by currents from a neighboring beach into the bay.
"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," he told local media.
The president is reportedly spending his holidays visiting different areas of the country to promote tourism.
