Hero dad held onto wife's hand as he died trying to save twins stuck in sea

Daily Mirror

27-05-2025

Alexandru Melei, 60, waded into the sea at Ingoldmells, Lincolnshire, after hearing two children scream for help - but was overwhelmed by the swell and died soon after
The daughter of a hero holidaymaker who died as he tried to rescue two twin girls from drowning at sea today told how his wife held his hand as his life ebbed away.
Ana-Maria Barbu, 36, revealed her father, Alexandru Melei, 60, had been in the UK visiting friends when he died trying to reach the stricken girls who were in distress at sea. Ana-Maria told how he heard the youngsters' screams for help and raced into the water - but was overwhelmed by the swell close to the Promenade in Ingoldmells, near Skegness, Lincs.
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And she has now launched a mercy mission to have his body repatriated back to his native Romania so they can lay him to rest. Speaking from her home in Bucharest, Ana-Maria said: "My mother and father were walking along the seashore when they heard the girls screaming, they were in distress.
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"The girls lived near my father's friends, so they knew them. From what I understand they had gone in the water together but had become separated when the water rose quickly. They were starting to panic, they were screaming and yelling for help. My father jumped in to try to save one of them and his friend went to the other.
"His friend managed to get the other girl out, but they were exhausted and they could see my dad was struggling. They had to do CPR on my father, my mum was there with him and was holding his hand the entire time. They couldn't do anything to save him." Alexandru and his wife of 38 years, Cornelia, 57, had arrived in the UK on Friday and were staying with Romanian friends in the popular tourist hotspot.
But a huge rescue mission was launched at around 4pm on Sunday after ex-Army medic Alexandru entered the sea close to the Promenade in Ingoldmells, near Skegness, Lincolnshire, in the Bank Holiday tragedy. Eyewitnesses revealed how an air ambulance was deployed while police and coastguards fought to save the man's life as horrified beachgoers watched on. However despite desperate efforts to revive him, it's understood he died in hospital.
The children - who emerged unscathed from the incident - were left "in terrible shock and wrapped in blankets" after the incident, according to people watching nearby. In an exclusive interview, Ana-Maria praised her father's bravery and courage. She said: "I'm so proud of him, he was so brave. This is who he was, he was a medical assistant in the Romanian military for half his life, then was a medical assistant in the hospital."
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Alexandru and Cornelia, who also have a son, 33, had just retired and began travelling the world. Ana-Maria said: "They were just starting to travel the world, my mum had been through chemotherapy last year and was in recovery, they were just starting to enjoy life and have fun. We are devastated."
Ana-Maria said: "We have been sent so many kind messages. People wanted me to set up a GoFundMe page so they could help bring his body home and also help my mother. People have been so kind."
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The RNLI confirmed it had launched the Skegness lifeboat during the incident. The coastguard and air ambulance were also in attendance.In a statement, Lincolnshire Police said: 'A 60-year-old man has sadly died after entering the water to help two children who appeared to be in distress. The man reportedly entered the sea just after 4pm close to the Promenade in Ingoldmells, he got into difficulty and sadly died at the scene. Our thoughts are with the man's family and loved ones at this very sad time. '
No lifeguards are stationed on the deserted beach where the tragedy happened despite a long history of drownings. On the prom which overlooks the beach where the children were playing there is a sign with the number of the RNLI to ring in the event of emergency.
A loud karaoke stage was blasting out music when the tragedy began to unfold which may have muffled what was happening to the crowds of visitors gathered around the large beachfront bar - Bibby's - and surrounding food and drink stalls. One local said: 'They turned off the karaoke as soon as someone realised something was wrong. But maybe it was too late by then.'
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Shocked families packing the seafront prom left in droves as news spread the treacherous waters had claimed another victim. There were floral tributes to others pinned to railings near the scene and hundreds more along the prom - many in memory of those who had died in similar tragedies.
Seafront trader Liarna Holmes said: 'Lot of people don't know about the dangers. We need lifeguards here. They have got them down in Skegness. But I have heard they were not out in Skegness yesterday either. There used to be lifeguards here and we should have them. There is an accident every year.
'There are flowers all along the prom in memory of those who have lost their lives to the sea. I have been down here six years and three seasons working on the beach. People don't realise when the yellow flag is flying there is an offshore wind that takes you straight out. Then you have the currents and riptides. It is quite a drop down and when the tide comes in and people don't realise how quickly it drops away.'