A BOWDON doctor drowned while trying to rescue two children as they were swept away by a wave off the coast of Tenerife.


Uma Ramalingam, who was 42, died alongside Dr Barathe Ravikumar, 40, from Lincolnshire, who is thought to have been a relative of Dr Ramalingam.


It has been widely reported that another woman, believed to be 38, was pulled from the water by rescuers, along with the two children, aged 10 and 14.


According to various news sources, Dr Ramalingam’s 10-year-old son was taken to hospital with hypothermia, while the 14-year-old was treated at the scene.


Dr Ramalingam, who worked as a consultant obstetrician at the Royal Oldham Hospital Women and Children’s Unit, was described as a ’fantastic doctor’ by a colleague.


Mr Olubusola Amu, consultant and clinical director of Women and Children Services at the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We are greatly saddened to hear the death of Uma who had been working for the trust for about six years.


"She was a fantastic doctor who brought a lot of hope to the high risk women attending the Women and Children’s Unit at the Royal Oldham Hospital.


"This is a terrible shock to everyone who knew Uma. Our thoughts are with her family at this sad time. She will be sorely missed.”


A Guardia Civil spokesman in Tenerife is reported to have said: “It appears that the two women were dragged into the sea by a wave yesterday at around 6pm in Playa Paraiso, Adeje.

“We can confirm that both were British and both were relatives, although we are not certain how they were related at the moment.”