Sea search for missing Austrian paragliders continues near Lisbon

LISBON, April 11 (Xinhua) -- The search continued Wednesday for two Austrian tourists swept out to sea after a paragliding accident near here on Monday, the National Maritime Authority (AMN) confirmed.

"The area was monitored with Maritime Police patrols, as per usual, overnight, before getting back in the water in the morning," AMN commander Fernando Pereira da Fonseca told the Lusa Portuguese News Agency.

"However, the waves look worse today than yesterday," he warned. "We're not very optimistic about reaching the area where the paraglider equipment is."

The Austrians have been missing since Monday when a woman who was out paragliding as part of a group landed on a beach close to the water's edge. She was immediately swept up by the strong tide and pulled into the water with her paraglider still attached.

Two other members of the group, who had landed further up the beach, jumped into the water to try and rescue her. All three people were swept out to sea.

The body of one paraglider was found on Monday. The other two have not been seen since, though the paraglider itself has been sighted. The chances of finding them alive are slim.

The accident took place at Meco, a beach near the town of Sesimbra, 40 km south of Lisbon.

Search and rescue attempts have been hindered by severe weather and powerful waves. Divers have struggled against strong riptides and low visibility. There have also been three failed attempts to drag the paraglider out of the water by helicopter. Enditem