Two tourists die on Gran Canaria beach
Two people drowned this morning on the Amadores beach in Mogan, Gran Canaria, for reasons that are still being investigated but it seems that high waves prevailing in the area had something to do with this tragic event. The incident took place about 11.50AM this morning when the Emergency Coordination Centre and Security (CECOES) were advised that two people were in distress, with symptoms of drowning, in the Amadores beach in the municipality of Mogan Gran Canaria. A basic life support ambulance, an advanced life support ambulance, the Emergency and Rescue Group (GES) helicopter, Guardia Civil, Mogan Local Police all attended the scene. The nationality of the tourists is not yet known.
UPDATE : http://www.canariesnews.com/2011/04/18/tragedy-beach-deaths-in-the-canaries/
really tragic news, but i have too say that the lifeguard were extremly slow getting to them, they were in the water a very long time after the authorites had been called.
the two men who swam out too the tourists are very brave people and should be awarded!!
Ok they weren’t on the beach. They were in a secluded area where people sunbathe naked . It’s rocks. No life guards. A sad loss.
I was one of the three men involved in trying to rescue the couple.
They chose to enter the water at a really bad place and it cost them their lives. We tried so hard to reach them and I will never forget the look on her face. The decision not to jump in after them will haunt me forever but I also have a wife and family and am 100% sure I would also have died.
The water was like a washing machine.
The police, all arrived to late and seemed confused at what to do. To be fair to them it was on the path halfway between amadores and puerto RICO at the cliffs led to by a spiral staircase. They were never going to get there in time. Rest in peace together the two of you.
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There has been an unfortunate update on this story here :
http://www.canariesnews.com/2011/04/18/tragedy-beach-deaths-in-the-canaries/
Very bad news, but when i see the article, it was not on amadores beach where it happened. The place where it happened is very unsafe to swimm, so let it be a lesson for others.
Today was the last day of our beautiful holiday. We witnessed the tragic incident from our hotel directly above. As we journeyed back to the UK we hoped whoever was involved would be ok. Sadly not.The images of the fruitless rescue will be in our minds for a long time. We’re very sad for their families.
Couldn’t understand why they didn’t send a motorised dinghy quickly.
Carol & Rob UK
We also watched the rescue operation from our hotel above(it seemed an awful long time them getting to the scene), how absolutely tragic. Thoughts go to their loved ones, also to the people that watched this tragedy unfold and were helpless.
I was watching from the hotel above the incident also. There was very little professional help available quickly. However a notice on the steps there I am told does state that it is unsafe to swim in difficult conditions. That day the sea swell was very very bad (which I suspect is unusual for the area).
Thoughts and prayers for the ppl who those who knew them.
We were on the final hours of our holiday together when the first tragic event unfolded before our very eyes. The first we knew of the incident was when two men frantically ran onto Bahia Blanca (a resort straight above the sea) and retrieved two life rings and sprinted towards the sea.
From then on we watched as brave members of the public desperately tried to reach the two unfortuante victims. Despite their heroic efforts there was unfortuanately little that could be done.
We were both glued to the spot in hope that what we were seeing was not happening and if it was something was to be done.
As the event unfolded before our very eyes ambulances and police arrived but little was done from the shore. Shortly after the ambulance and police crews arrived a team of fire fighters joined, very swiftly after their arrivial two incrediably brave fire men launched themselves into the very dangerous, rough, and unsettled sea. They frantically swam towards the victims in a desperate effort to save them putting their own lives at risk. It is extremely upsetting that for appox. 40minutes from the moment that they were spotted they weren’t reached by boat and although the fire crew had reached them there was very little that they could do in the water.
This shocked and horrified all that stood by us in amazement that it took so long for any suitable form of rescue to reach them.
In conditions such as these it seemed that no tourist boats were on the water that day however there should be some form of lifeboat or suitable resue methods for such emergencies.
The whole of the coastline is fueled by tourists (i.e people who do not know the area and waters). Hotels, bars etc look after all of their guests so well it was so horendous to think this wasn’t the case along the coastline.
However it is warming to think that members of the public and the fire crew were so brave that day and despite all their efforts unfortuatly the young married couple couldn’t be saved.
Our hearts go out to the friends, family and the two victims.
we were on our 1st day of our holiday when we witnessed this tragic situation from our balcany above. we truley thought they would be ok , but sadly this was not to be. we are very sorry we could not help them god bless them both
We actually were only 2 days into our holiday exploring the coast and cautiously went down the spiral staircase when we came across it, to view the scenery and waves. Those 2 people were there at the time and splashing in the waves at the edge of the rock, whih we thought dangerous at the time, so stayed a little further back. We took some photos and went back up the staircase and along the coast walkway. We were therefore horrified when walking back to see all of the emergency services and discover that these 2 were now struggling in the water. A sad time and odd to have been there shortly before the tragic event happened, with those that later lost their lives. They have since concreted the entrance to the stairs to stop it happening again.
We witnessed another worrying incident last week.
The waves started to swell significantly from the rocks to the beach.
A lady got into trouble and was rescued by some people who reached the floating pontoon. Not sure what had happened to her but the waves were so strong she could, I guess, have been swept with some force on to the rocks or the pontoon itself.
The lifeguard responded and an ambulance was called. The lady appeared OK but there was a bit of wailing and screaming during the event.
After the event the police arrived and directed that swimming be suspended.
The lifeguard had a pitifully small red flag on display so people continued swimming.
I believe the lifeguard ought to have been aware of the risks and closed the beach sooner, when the waves started to get serious – it was clear the swell was larger than normal when sunbathers, higher up the beach, had to relocate as the waves were coming much higher up than usual.
This is January 2022 and there are still people climbing over the concrete to get to the spiral staircase which leads to the rocks. My husband and I witnessed girls sunbathing on those rocks today. People will never learn. Very tragic what happened to the couple 11 years ago.