LISBON, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Three British tourists and a German who drowned off the coast of Portugal's Algarve tourist region on Monday were trying to rescue their children from the sea, a police official said on Tuesday.

Maritime Police commander Pedro Pereira identified the victims as two British women, a British man and a German man aged between 40 and 50. He declined to reveal their names.

All four bodies have been recovered. The children were saved.

"The children got caught up in some currents and the parents who rushed to save them ended up drowning," said Pereira.

"We are talking about a beach very much exposed to the Atlantic Ocean with deep waters and currents, with no lifeguards because the bathing season ended last month."

A British brother and sister lost both their parents.

It was the first drowning on the rocky beach of Tonel, located in the fishing village of Sagres, this year, according to authorities. "Its a real tragedy," said Pereira.

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