Two people have tragically lost their lives in separate drowning incidents within 24 hours at beaches in Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura, prompting renewed calls for swimmers to take extra care when entering the sea.

The first incident happened on Monday afternoon at Nido de las Águilas Beach, just south of the Fuerteventura Playa Blanca Hotel. Emergency services were called at around 4:45pm after a woman was spotted floating face down in the water.

A fellow beachgoer managed to bring her ashore before lifeguards and firefighters began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Paramedics, supported by medical staff from the Puerto del Rosario Health Centre, continued advanced life-saving efforts, but despite their best attempts, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. She has not yet been formally identified.

Less than 24 hours later, tragedy struck again at nearby Playa Blanca beach, where emergency services were alerted at 3:37pm on Tuesday after reports of a man in difficulty in the sea.

He was brought ashore aboard an inflatable rescue boat before SUC paramedics immediately began advanced CPR. Despite prolonged resuscitation efforts, he could not be revived and was also pronounced dead. His identity has not yet been released.

Local Police and National Police attended both incidents and carried out the necessary investigations.

The two fatalities serve as a stark reminder of the risks the sea can pose, even during the summer months when beaches are at their busiest. Strong currents, changing sea conditions and sudden medical emergencies can quickly turn a day at the beach into a tragedy.

Anyone planning to swim is advised to:

• Always swim at beaches with lifeguards whenever possible.
• Check the colour of the beach safety flags before entering the water and never ignore a red flag.
• Avoid swimming alone.
• Be aware of currents and changing sea conditions.
• Stay within your ability and avoid taking unnecessary risks, especially if conditions appear rough.
• Keep a close eye on children and vulnerable swimmers at all times.

If someone gets into difficulty in the water, call 112 immediately and avoid entering the sea yourself unless it is safe to do so.