THE Brit siblings who drowned during their “dream” holiday in Spain were “water babies” who used to swim every day, their family revealed.
Ameiya Parris and Ricardo Junior Parris tragically died on Tuesday while on holiday at Llarga beach in Salou, near Tarragona .
The siblings, known as Maya and Jubs, were enjoying a family holiday with their parents and four other children .
Their aunty Kayla Delbrocco from Birmingham said the kids had been swimming “every day” in the sea – and would have had no reason to believe they were in danger.
She told The Sun: “It was supposed to be a special day – the kids love the beach, they go every day.
“They’ve always been water babies – they’d been in every day. We had gone on holiday together there six years ago, so they were excited to go back and knew what to expect.
“It’s beautiful out there. They were older, so they could remember, but their younger siblings hadn’t experienced it before. So it was nice that the six of them were going.”
Aunty Kayla said the family headed to the beach just before 8.30pm on Tuesday for their nightly swim, just half an hour after lifeguards clocked off.
Ameiya and Ricardo Jr, known lovingly as Maya and Jubs, were in the water with dad Ricardo Sr, when the trio were swept up in the difficult waters, with the alarm raised just before 8.50pm.
Kayla continued: “They weren’t even that far in – they’ve been going there the same time every day. It was just another day for them.
“It doesn’t look like it’s dangerous – They had like a yellow flag saying you’re safe to go in, but just be careful.
“We’ve come to learn that the beach was dangerous; someone had died in the morning, the same day. A 54-year-old German man died the same day as the little ones.
“There was no word about it or anything – no warning. We’ve come to learn that there have been 16/17 deaths there in the past month.”
Ricardo Sr desperately tried to save Maya and Jubs, but got into trouble himself in what was described as ‘stormy’ seas off the Spanish beach.
Their mum, Shanice, had taken the other four children to the toilet before returning to the dramatic scenes.
Aunty Kayla said: “When it happened, my sister [Shanice] went to take the little ones to the bathroom. Then, when she came back, there was everyone everywhere.”
Emergency services rushed to the aid of the trio, and managed to revive Ricardo Jr, and with Maya and Jubs, Kayla said medics “tirelessly tried to revive them”.
She said: “They managed to save Ricardo Sr Junior was airlifted straight to the hospital and Maya was worked on at the beach.”
But tragically, despite the efforts of emergency services, Maya and Jubs both passed away – leaving the entire family devastated.
Kayla said: “[Ricardo Sr and Shanice] are going through the motions, they’re keeping it together. They wouldn’t be able to do it without each other.
“This is the first holiday where there were six [children] and they hadn’t been on holiday for some time.
“They’ve been doing everything they can to make sure the [four] little ones are engaged. It’s been a difficult time for them.”
Kayla confirmed that repatriation teams had been in contact with the family and that “paperwork was ready” – with parents Shanice and Ricardo insisting they won’t leave Salou without Maya and Jubs.
She added: “They are staying there until they can bring the kids home – they won’t leave without them.”
A GoFundMe was made by family friend Holly Marquis-Johnson in honour of Maya and Jubs, to help “ ease some of the financial burden” of repatriation and to give the “dignified farewell they deserve”.
Leaving a heartbreaking tribute on the fundraiser, Holly wrote: “Maya was intelligent, thoughtful, and growing into a strong young woman. Ricardo Junior was playful, kind, and always smiling.
“They brought so much love, laughter, and energy into the lives of everyone around them.”
The GoFundMe, which had a target of £15,000, has raised over £39,000 at the time of writing, with an outpouring of support from donors.
In a statement sent as a voice message to The Sun, Kayla expressed her gratitude to the public for the overwhelming support.
She said: “We want to give our thanks as family for all the kindness and overwhelming generosity of the national community.
“Times are really difficult for everyone, yet people still sacrificed what they can to support our baby sister [Shanice] and Ricardo in this living nightmare.
“Our babies can come home now and we can all start grieving together. Thanks will never be enough, but sincere thanks from our hearts is all we can give you right now.
“We really appreciate what you have all done. Thank you.”
It comes after six-year-old Casius, who was also on the trip, is now trying to make sense of the unimaginable tragedy .
Casius is said to have told his mother : “Did you know Maya and Jubs are in heaven now? Juby went to heaven in a helicopter”.
The heartbreaking words were told to the Daily Mail by his aunt Macalia Del Brocco after Ricardo Jnr was airlifted to the hospital.
Macalia said: “So that’s his understanding of it, which is bittersweet, because that was what he saw.
“And it’s beautiful that he thinks that’s what happened, but very sadly tragic at the same time.”
Tragic fundraiser for Maya and Jubs
A FUNDRAISER has been launched help support the family of Ameiya, 13, and Ricardo Junior, 11.
The GoFundMe page has been launched to raise money to help bring the two tragic children home after they died while swimming on holiday in Spain.
The page – set up by cousin Holly Marquis-Johnson – pays a heartbreaking tribute to the brother and sister from Birmingham.
It reads: “Two beautiful, bright, and deeply loved children, taken far too soon.
“The pain their family is feeling is unimaginable.”
Ameiya is described as “intelligent , thoughtful and growing into a strong young woman”, while Ricardo Junior was “playful, kind and always smiling”.
To donate to the GoFundME click HERE
