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Holidaymakers watched open-mouthed as the semi-inflatable Zodiac carrying nearly 50 Moroccans including around ten children beached near a purpose-built luxury hotel area on Spain’s Costa de la Luz.

Two people are said to have been held by police called to the scene and several of the teenagers on the boat were assisted by workers at nearby hotels and restaurants.

The incident happened around 3.30pm yesterday at Barrosa Beach, considered to be one of the best beaches on Spain’s southern coast and near a purpose-built residential and tourist resort called Sancti Petri which boasts shops, restaurants and several four and five-star hotels.

One of the beachgoers filming the surreal scene could be heard saying in Spanish as the migrants leapt from their boat: “Look how they’re running towards the Sancti Petri Melia Hotel.