In Manlleu, rescue teams in Barcelona province recovered the bodies of two 11-year-old twin brothers from the Ter River, ending an intense search that began late Monday night. The children vanished after reportedly playing football and then entering the river for a swim. Neither was a strong swimmer. Their disappearance triggered a large-scale operation involving local police and Mossos d’Esquadra, with drones and underwater units also deployed. An October 2026 listing in El Caso’s Manlleu coverage also reported the twins’ deaths in the river.
The alarm was raised after the boys failed to return home by 21:00, the usual closing time of the school football pitch where they often played. Their father filed a missing-person report past midnight, prompting authorities to mobilize search teams along the riverbanks and in the water. By Tuesday morning, emergency crews had found clothing matching the family’s description, strengthening suspicions that the boys had entered the river before vanishing.
At around 13:00 on Tuesday, divers located the first body at a depth of three metres. The second was found an hour later, not far from the initial site. The family, present at the scene, was informed immediately. The physical descriptions and clothing strongly indicate that the bodies are those of the missing twins, but full identification will be completed at the Institute of Legal Medicine of Catalonia (IMELEC) using fingerprint analysis. An autopsy will clarify the precise circumstances, though accidental drowning is considered the most likely cause.
The incident has shaken the local community and highlighted the dangers of unsupervised swimming in rivers, especially after dark and for those without strong swimming skills. The Ter River runs through several towns in Catalonia and is known for variable currents and depths, making some stretches hazardous. Local authorities regularly warn residents about the risks, particularly during warmer months, when children are more likely to seek relief in natural water sources.
Tragic accidents involving children and water are not uncommon in Spain, especially during the summer. In a separate case, a wildfire in Almería led to multiple fatalities after residents attempted to escape via a dead-end route, as detailed in this report on the Los Gallardos incident. Both events underscore the importance of safety awareness and rapid emergency response in preventing further loss of life.
Official statistics show that accidental drownings remain a impressive public safety concern in Spain, with rivers and reservoirs accounting for a impressive share of incidents involving minors. Authorities continue to urge families to supervise children closely near water and educate them about the risks, especially in areas without lifeguards or clear signage. The outcome of the investigation in Manlleu may prompt renewed calls for local safety measures and community education to help prevent similar tragedies.
