A tragic incident occurred when a 12-year-old child lost their life after encountering difficulties in the sea near a Spanish island’s coast.
The emergency response was activated on Tuesday, July 21, around 1:36 pm, following distress reports of two individuals in trouble at La Laja Beach, situated in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Various emergency units, including medical ambulances, a rescue helicopter, and ground support teams from the Spanish Red Cross, Maritime Rescue, Civil Guard, and police, swiftly mobilized to the scene.
Upon arrival, the Red Cross’s beach rescue team successfully rescued an 11-year-old child from the water. The minor was promptly transferred to the University Maternal and Child Hospital of the Canary Islands via a basic life support ambulance. No details regarding the child’s injuries or current condition have been disclosed.
A thorough search operation, involving land, sea, and air resources, was launched to locate the second missing minor. Eventually, the body was found in the water and subsequently transported by a Civil Guard vessel to the San Cristóbal dock. The National Police are currently conducting an investigation into the tragic incident.
La Laja Beach, one of the four beaches in the capital of Gran Canaria, attracts mostly local residents rather than tourists. The beach is situated between the southern part of the capital city and Telde, the island’s second most populous town.
This unfortunate event follows another recent tragedy where a mother and her daughter lost their lives at West Mersea beach in Essex. Essex Police confirmed the deaths of Shelina Rahman, 41, and Samiha, 15, who encountered difficulties in the water on Mersea Island. Despite efforts to rescue Samiha’s seven-year-old cousin, Shelina and Samiha succumbed to the high tide. The young boy is currently hospitalized in critical condition.