British man and his fiancée drown off the coast of Sicily

Police believe Mr Sturgess may have died trying to rescue his girlfriend

Tre Fontane beach

A British man and his fiancée have drowned after getting into difficulty in waters off the coast of Sicily.

Andrew Sturgess, 34, and Carmen Spiridon, 25, died in the sea at Tre Fontane beach in the village of Campobello di Mazara in the south-west of the Italian island.

Police believe Mr Sturgess may have died trying to rescue his girlfriend. She was found floating in the water a few yards away from him, according to a local newspaper.

Eyewitnesses said they had seen the pair playing safely in the water just moments before, it was reported.

Local police officer Captain Fabio Manzo told Sky News: "The water was not rough at the time but from what we have established neither was a strong swimmer and there are awkward currents in the area.

"We think that perhaps one of them had got into trouble and that they had tried to save the other but sadly in the end, both died."

The Daily Mail reported that the couple were from Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire and were on holiday visiting Ms Spiridon's mother.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.