A British tourist has tragically lost his life after getting into difficulty while swimming at a popular beach in Tenerife.
The victim, a 75-year-old man, was pulled from the sea by lifeguards at El Duque beach in Costa Adeje, located in the south of the island, around midday. Emergency services rushed to the scene after the man was found unresponsive in the water.
According to local reports, medical teams including paramedics, a doctor, and a nurse from a nearby health centre immediately began life-saving efforts. Despite prolonged attempts to revive him, the man suffered a cardiac arrest and was declared dead at the beach.
Initially, authorities described the victim as a foreign tourist in his 70s. It has now been confirmed that he was a British national who had recently celebrated his 75th birthday.
El Duque beach is a well-known Blue Flag beach, popular with tourists but also recognised for having strong sea currents, which can be dangerous, especially for elderly swimmers. It remains unclear whether the man had been swimming alone or was accompanied by relatives or friends.
An autopsy is scheduled in Santa Cruz, Tenerife’s capital, to determine whether the man drowned or if an underlying medical condition contributed to his death.
A spokesperson from the regional emergency coordination centre said the tourist was first assisted by lifeguards before emergency medical teams arrived and continued CPR. However, all efforts to save him were unsuccessful. Local police and Spain’s National Police are preparing a report for the investigating court.
Tenerife has witnessed several fatal sea incidents in recent months, particularly during periods of rough weather. In December last year, four people died after being dragged into the sea at natural pools near Los Gigantes, while multiple others were injured in separate wave-related accidents.
