A British tourist has died after being rescued from the sea at Playa del Águila, near El Cotillo in northern Fuerteventura, on Thursday evening (May 28). Emergency services were alerted at around 5:30pm after reports that two people were in difficulty in the water.
One swimmer managed to get out of the sea without assistance and was treated on the beach by paramedics, declining further medical treatment. However, a second person was found by rescuers from the Canary Islands Emergency and Rescue Group (GES) during a helicopter search. After being winched to safety, crews discovered he was in cardiac arrest and began CPR.
Once on the ground, paramedics, a medical helicopter crew and staff from a local health centre continued resuscitation efforts, but were unable to revive him. His death was confirmed at the scene.
Beach rescue teams, Civil Protection volunteers, local police and firefighters also took part in the response. The Guardia Civil has opened an investigation and is preparing an official report.
Playa del Águila is a wild, secluded beach on Fuerteventura's northwest coast, accessible only by a steep 130-step staircase. There are no lifeguards or facilities, and at high tide the beach disappears entirely.
Fuerteventura, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, attracts around 2.7 to 2.8 million tourists annually, far exceeding its resident population of approximately 120,000 to 130,000.
