Hero barman saved three lives in Puerto de la Cruz tragedy
A barman from the popular Bar La Fragata, located near the harbour in Puerto de la Cruz (Tenerife), has been hailed as a hero after rescuing three people from the sea during Saturday’s tragic incident in which a Dutch cruise passenger lost her life after being swept off the rocks by a powerful wave.
“I didn’t think twice, as soon as I took my top off, I jumped straight into the water,” Pedro, a retired professional sailor who now works at the bar, told COPE Canarias in an interview reported by Europa Press. He said he was “very happy” that three lives were saved, though he remains shaken by the tragedy.
Pedro knew the risks well, given the rough seas and the dangerous proximity of the rocks and harbour wall. Despite this, he managed to rescue all three people without panic setting in. “I told one of them, ‘Either you turn around and I’ll pull you out, or we’ll all drown,’” he recalled. One of the people he saved even returned to the bar the following day to personally thank him.
According to Pedro, access to the breakwater was not closed off, even though sea conditions were deteriorating. He described the wave as “unexpected”, explaining: “Two strong waves came in, and then everything went calm again.”
He also urged greater caution near the coast, particularly from visitors unfamiliar with local conditions. “People get too confident,” he said. “There’s no need to take risks just to get a good photo, cameras have zoom lenses, don’t they?”
The tragedy has reignited calls for hotels and authorities to warn tourists about dangerous sea conditions, especially during periods of strong swells. Safety experts note that seven out of ten drowning victims in the Canary Islands are tourists, highlighting the urgent need for more coastal awareness campaigns.
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