Tragedy has struck the popular holiday island of Tenerife, with three people losing their lives after being swept into the sea by powerful waves. The incidents, which occurred on Tuesday, also left at least fifteen people injured across several locations on the Spanish island.
A Day of Multiple Coastal Emergencies
The first incident unfolded around 11.30am in Roque de las Bodegas on Tenerife's north-east tip. Six French holidaymakers were injured after a wave swept them into the water. Emergency responders confirmed the group had ignored warning signs and got too close to the sea. Fortunately, all managed to get out with the help of others, and five were taken to hospital, one via air ambulance. None sustained life-threatening injuries.
The most serious event occurred around 3pm in the northern city resort of Puerto de la Cruz. A 79-year-old Dutch tourist died and nine other people were rushed to hospital after being swept into the sea. Local police and bystanders rescued those affected from the water. Tragically, one of the victims went into cardiac arrest. Despite resuscitation efforts by police and later paramedics, she was confirmed dead at the scene. Three of the nine injured were reported to be in a serious condition, suffering from injuries including hip and leg fractures.
Local Fisherman and Unidentified Man Also Perish
In a separate incident just before 4.45pm, a 43-year-old local man lost his life at Charco del Viento, a natural pool complex a short drive west of Puerto de la Cruz. Local reports identified him as a resident from nearby La Orotava who was fishing when a wave dragged him into the ocean. A helicopter rescued him and transported him to the docks in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where he was pronounced dead due to the severity of his injuries.
Overnight, the body of a third man was discovered. His identity remains unknown. He was found floating in the sea off El Cabezo beach in Granadilla in the south-west of the island. Authorities have not yet confirmed if his death was directly caused by the wave conditions.
Official Warnings and a Sobering Statistic
On the same day as these tragedies, Canary Islands officials had issued a stark reminder for both locals and tourists to exercise 'maximum caution at the coast'. The alert about dangerous sea conditions was first raised on Friday. Officials specifically warned people not to stand at the end of piers or breakwaters and not to risk taking photographs or videos near where the waves break.
This series of incidents highlights the very real dangers posed by the Atlantic Ocean. A regional government-run emergency response coordination centre is managing the aftermath, and an investigation led by the Civil Guard is ongoing. The events bring a grim context to the official statistic that 54 people died from drowning in the Canary Islands between January and October of this year.
