A surfer has been praised after helping save a swimmer in difficulty at Cofete Beach in Pájara, Fuerteventura, on Saturday afternoon, rescuing him before the emergency services arrived at the beach.

According to the Canary Islands Emergency and Security Coordination Centre (CECOES), the alarm was raised at 3:50pm after reports of a 49-year-old man struggling in the sea and at risk of drowning.

The surfer acted quickly and managed to bring the man safely ashore before the GES helicopter reached the scene with medical personnel on board.

After receiving treatment from paramedics, who found him to be suffering from moderate symptoms of drowning from ingesting a large amount of seawater, the man was airlifted to the Hospital General de Fuerteventura for further medical care.

The incident serves as another reminder to take extra care when swimming in the sea in the Canary Islands, particularly at beaches such as Cofete, which is well known for its strong currents and challenging sea conditions.