Search to resume today for missing student swept out to sea in Lanzarote
Rescue teams will restart their search this morning, Monday, for a young American student who was swept into the sea at Los Charcones in southwest Lanzarote. The intensive operation followed a dramatic series of events yesterday, during which emergency services spent hours trying to locate him in extremely dangerous coastal conditions.
The incident involved four US students, aged 19 to 21, who are studying in Madrid and visiting Lanzarote. Despite the area being closed due to a severe coastal alert, the group reached Los Charcones on foot after bypassing a barrier on the access road.
A sudden large wave struck them, dragging two into the water. One was rescued alive around 800 metres away by the Canary Islands Emergency and Rescue helicopter.
The remaining two suffered minor injuries among the rocks but declined medical assistance. The fourth member of the group was pulled out to sea and has not been seen since.
Throughout Sunday, a wide-ranging search was carried out involving a Maritime Rescue helicopter and rescue vessels, a Guardia Civil patrol boat, firefighters using a jet ski, and Local Police searching from land with drones. By early evening, authorities suspended the operation, planning to resume at first light today as they believe the missing man is no longer on the surface.
The Government of the Canary Islands had declared a coastal alert from Saturday morning, with waves of 4 to 5 metres expected across the archipelago and even higher in Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. Los Charcones, known for its natural pools popular on social media, was officially closed to bathing due to the risk.
Today’s renewed search will see Maritime Rescue and the regional Emergency and Rescue Group alternating helicopter coverage, while the Guardia Civil and Maritime Rescue continue by sea with support from other ground teams.
Share:
