Britons die in trekking incidents (From Oxford Mail)

Britons die in trekking incidents

5:11am Tuesday 15th May 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

Two Britons have died in separate incidents while holidaying in Gran Canaria - just days after parts of the Canary Islands were issued with heatwave warnings.

Wendy Richardson, 78, and Willoughby Chaffey, 74, had both been hiking on the Spanish island on Sunday when tragedy struck, according to reports.

Mrs Richardson is believed to have collapsed after suffering a suspected heart attack 40 minutes into a two hour guided walk.

She was one of a number of British holidaymakers affected by the extreme heat during the trek neat the Presa del Salto del Perro in the south of the island.

Meanwhile, Mr Chaffey fell into a ravine during a trek with his wife at beauty spot Barranco de Azuaje in the north of the island, it was reported.

Temperatures have been reaching 40C in parts of the Canaries in recent days with the authorities issuing weather warnings last week.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We can confirm the deaths of two British nationals in two separate incidents in Gran Canaria on May 13.

"We are providing consular assistance to the families."