A 45-year-old man is recovering after a terrifying accident at a hotel in southern Gran Canaria, where he was nearly drowned after becoming trapped by the powerful suction of a swimming pool filter.

The incident happened during the first half of July while the man was swimming, but details have only just been released by authorities. According to the water safety organisation Canarias, 1,500 Km de Costa, the hotel's water circulation system activated unexpectedly, causing the swimmer to become pinned to the bottom of the pool by the filtration outlet.

His family acted quickly, managing to pull him free after a considerable struggle against the powerful suction. Their rapid intervention is believed to have saved his life.

The man, described as being of strong build and weighing around 80 kilograms, was rushed to hospital, where he remains under medical care. His condition has been described as serious but stable as he continues his recovery.

Warning Over Pool Drain Dangers

The association has used the incident to highlight the dangers posed by pool drainage systems that lack adequate safety measures.

Water safety expert Sebastián Quintana said the victim's height and weight may have prevented an even more tragic outcome. He warned that similar accidents are particularly dangerous for young children, whose smaller size makes them especially vulnerable to becoming trapped by powerful suction from pool drains.

Family Awaits Answers

The victim's family say they are deeply concerned after learning of previous incidents involving the same pool filtration system at the hotel. They are now waiting for an explanation regarding what happened and whether any action will be taken.

Campaign for New Safety Laws

Following the incident, Canarias, 1,500 Km de Costa has announced it will formally ask the Spanish Government, the Canary Islands Government and local councils to make these emergency safety measures a legal requirement.

Quintana is calling for all swimming pools to install a clearly visible and easily accessible emergency stop, or "panic button", close to the pool. Such a device would immediately switch off the filtration system, stop the suction in the event of an emergency, and help prevent further serious injuries and save lives.