Man dies after being pulled from the sea in Santa Pola

The Emergency Information and Coordination Centre (CICU) received a call requesting assistance for the swimmer at 4:54 p.m. yesterday, Tuesday 11th August. Lifeguards rescued the man from the sea and immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), performing the basic life support manoeuvres for approximately ten minutes until emergency services arrived.

A SAMU emergency medical service unit was dispatched to the beach and took over healthcare efforts. The medical personnel continued advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation manoeuvres for 39 minutes. However, despite their extended efforts, they were unable to revive the man, and his death was confirmed at the scene. An autopsy will determine the exact cause of death.

Following the incident, the Health Emergency Service of the Ministry of Health reminded the public that prevention and constant vigilance are essential to avoid water accidents at beaches and swimming pools.

Health authorities advise against swimming alone, noting that a significant number of adult drownings happen when individuals enter the sea unaccompanied, making it difficult to receive assistance if they feel dizzy or encounter trouble. Swimmers should always obey lifeguard instructions and flag warnings, check sea conditions, and avoid areas with strong currents. Anyone caught in a current is advised to swim parallel to the shore until they can clear it.

Children require constant adult supervision, with the Ministry recommending staying within one metre of young bathers. Authorities also advise against jumping from rocks or heights, playing underwater breath-holding games, and overestimating physical swimming abilities. Bathing should ideally be restricted to beaches and pools during active lifeguard duty hours.

In a water emergency, the public should alert lifeguards immediately and call 112. When contacting emergency services, you can expedite the arrival by providing an exact location and sending someone to meet the approaching ambulance. If a victim is not breathing, telephone operators can guide bystanders through basic CPR procedures until emergency personnel arrive.