A British holidaymaker has died after being swept into the sea by a wave at a landmark natural rock pool in Tenerife.
The 63-year-old was one of three people who got into difficulties in the drama at Los Gigantes natural swimming pool in the west of the island.
A rescue helicopter was mobilised along with police, firefighters and emergency medical responders.
The man was found lying face-down in the sea and airlifted to a nearby football ground, but efforts to revive him after rescue teams discovered he had gone into cardiac arrest proved unsuccessful.
The other two people swept into the sea, both women, managed to reach safety themselves.
One was taken to a health centre with minor injuries and the other treated for a panic attack.
It was not immediately clear this morning if the survivors were relatives or friends of the man who died and what their nationalities were.
Police could not be reached early this morning to comment on local reports describing the victim as a British holidaymaker.
The tragedy occurred just before midday yesterday at the Los Gigantes natural pool in the municipality of Santiago del Teide, also known as Crab Island Pool and near to the four-star Barcelo Santiago Hotel.
The 60-year-old was one of three people who got into difficulties in the drama at Los Gigantes natural swimming pool in the west of the island
The tragedy occurred just before midday yesterday at the Los Gigantes natural pool in the municipality of Santiago del Teide (file image)
Although a concrete wall protects bathers, online travel site warnings advise tourists to stay out of the pool when ocean waves are high because they can wash back.
Local officials have been urging people in the Canary Islands to take care near the sea this week because of the strong swell and heavy waves.
A spokesman for a regional government-run emergency response coordination centre, detailing yesterday’s operation, confirmed: ‘Emergency services intervened in the rescue of three people who had got into difficulties in the sea in Tenerife.
‘It occurred near to the Crab Island natural pool in the municipality of Santiago del Teide.
‘The alarm was raised just before midday yesterday, when we were told three people had been swept by a wave into the sea.
‘A man aged 60 died. He was found face down in the water and rescued by helicopter and taken to a nearby football pitch.
‘It was confirmed he was still in cardiac arrest when the helicopter touched down and efforts to revive him and save his life proved unsuccessful.
‘A 50-year-old woman was initially transferred to a nearby health centre. She had minor injuries to her lower limbs.
‘She and another woman who was suffering a panic attack but didn’t need to be taken to hospital managed to get out of the water themselves.’
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
