A man and a woman have died this morning (Wednesday) drowned in the sea on la playa Tossals in Guardamar del Segura. The deceased, both of Spanish nationality, were on holiday in the town with their two children aged 11 and 14.
The tragedy happened at 10am and although little of the incident is known the arrival of the Urgent Medical Assistance Service (SAMU) was able only to confirm their deaths. A spokesperson at the Centre for Information and Coordination of Emergencies said that they appeared to have been dead for some time.
The mayor of the town, José Luis Saez, explained that this is a natural bathing area , located next to one of the banks of the river Segura, and lacking any monitoring or rescue service.
On Guardamar’s beaches the red flag was raised all morning prohibiting any bathing at all because of the strong winds and currents.
The social services have taken the two children into care, pending the arrival of relatives.
The family was staying at the Marjal campsite and the event has caused great sorrow in the town. According to the council website, the area where the events occurred is a quiet beach of 1.6 kilometres that is located on the north bank of the mouth of the river Segura, which extends to the municipal border with Elche.
The quality of sand and water are superior elements of the beach, which is bounded by thick vegetation and natural dunes, and which make it an attractive location practice nudism .”
Meanwhile there was a lucky escape for three other people, an adult and two children, who were caught out by strong waves in Torrevieja.
The Maritime Service of the Local Police were called to a situation at la Cala de Los Trabajos where the three bathers were struggling to remain afloat in waves of over 2 metres. One of the youths did eventually make it to the shore with the other two being dragged onto the boat after holding on to a rubber ring that they had been thrown. It is understood that the adult was a Guardia Civil officer who had been attempting to effect a rescue.
This was not the first time that the Guardia Civil officer had been involved in a dramatic sea rescue as just last month he helped two other people who were in difficulties to get out of the water. And the coincidences don’t end there as the agent had stopped the two young men only a week before when they were thought to be committing a minor misdemeanour.
Identified only as Jorge the Guardia Officer said “The day my partner and I stopped them they were obviously very frustrated that we had occasion to reprimand them, but when I was out there trying to save their lives in the high waves they say us rather differently,” he said.
Fortunately there were no injuries to any of the swimmers who were simply said to be suffering from shock as a result of their ordeal.
Incidents like these are really sad and we should be careful while performing these activities as you never know what could happen to you in life. We should remain safe in life.