A British man has died after being pulled from the sea in a dramatic helicopter rescue off the coast of Fuerteventura. The incident occurred at Playa del Aguila, also known as Playa de La Escalera, in the La Oliva municipality in the north of the Canary Island.
Emergency services were called at around 5.30pm on Thursday following reports that two people were in difficulty in the water. Rescuers aboard a Canary Islands Emergency and Rescue Group (GES) helicopter located the man and winched him to safety. He was found to be in cardiac arrest and crews immediately began CPR while transporting him to a nearby landing site.
Paramedics, a medical helicopter crew and staff from a local health centre attempted to resuscitate him on the ground, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The second swimmer managed to reach the shore without assistance and was treated on the beach by paramedics.
Lifeguards from La Oliva beach service, maritime rescue teams, Civil Protection volunteers, local police officers and firefighters all took part in the rescue operation. The Civil Guard has opened an investigation and is preparing an official report into the incident.
Playa del Aguila is a secluded beach on Fuerteventura’s rugged north-west coast, about three miles south of El Cotillo. Known for its untouched landscape, it features orange-gold sand, turquoise waters and volcanic cliffs, and is accessed via a steep 130-step staircase known as La Escalera. At high tide, the water reaches the cliffs and the beach can disappear completely.
