Three young French children drowned off the Normandy coast when a family’s motorboat was struck by a huge wave and capsized in windy conditions.

Three adults on board survived Monday’s drama, 800m (0.5 miles) off the Agon-Coutainville beach south of Cherbourg.

Rescuers were quickly on the scene, but the boat’s stern was under water, including the cabin where the children were trapped.

The sisters aged 13 and nine, and boy aged seven, could not be revived.