A 55-year-old lifeguard has been praised after rescuing four members of the same British family from drowning off the coast of Fuerteventura. The holidaymakers were saved after getting into serious difficulty at the Spanish island's Grandes Playas de Corralejo.
Swift action from watchtower
The lifeguard reportedly noticed the tourists battling in the water some distance from the shoreline at approximately 2.30pm local time on Friday. He had been monitoring the situation from his watchtower when he saw them in distress.
He swiftly abandoned his position and sprinted down the beach before plunging into the water to reach the family. Upon getting to them, he managed to keep all four above water until emergency services could reach them.
Jet ski and paramedics assist
According to the Canarian Weekly, a rescue jet ski turned up shortly afterwards with two lifeguards aboard who assisted in bringing the family back to the beach. Upon returning to land, rescuers reported that a teenager was displaying symptoms of "non-fatal drowning".
The youngster received treatment and the Canary Island Emergency Services were notified. Paramedics reached the beach within minutes and the teenager was transported to hospital. Local media reports indicate they are now out of danger.
Fitness praised by fellow lifeguards
Fellow lifeguards have lauded the man for his physical fitness and believe his swift action averted a potential tragedy, reports the Mirror. He demonstrated remarkable ability by swimming a substantial distance from the shoreline and keeping the family above water, which demanded considerable strength and stamina.
In the wake of the rescue, there have been growing demands for enhanced information, warnings and beach restrictions, alongside multilingual signage. Lifeguards maintain that signs in various languages could help prevent tourists from misinterpreting hazardous sea conditions. They've stressed that ensuring beachgoers comprehend safety guidance could help avert tragic incidents, particularly on coastlines where currents pose challenges and perilous sea conditions aren't always obvious.
Previous incident on the island
The incident follows just months after a holidaymaker perished in Fuerteventura after going into cardiac arrest while being rescued from the water by helicopter. The individual was airlifted to safety in June. Upon being winched aboard, emergency crews discovered he was in cardiac arrest and immediately commenced CPR while transporting him to a nearby landing zone.
Medical personnel, an air ambulance crew and staff from a local health centre tried to revive the man, but he was declared dead at the scene. A second swimmer reached the beach unaided and received treatment from paramedics on the sand.
