Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
Recently, two 25-year old women were rescued by the Malaga coast guard from open water about 300 meters off La Misericordia Beach after they had been swept away while paddle-surfing.
Early in the morning, the women went out into the water with a paddleboard. However, they were unable to get back to shore because of the strong current. They lost the paddleboard and tried swimming back to shore without success.
The Malaga Local Police stated that one of these women was carrying a mobile in a waterproof case, which helped prevent a worse outcome. She called a friend and reported their struggle to reach shore using the device. The friend called emergency services and alerted the 112 emergency service at 7.55am.
Malaga Police tries to rescue paddle surfers by spotting them in rescue attempts
The women were too far from the shore to be located by a local patrol. The alert also reached the control room 092 who mobilised the Malaga Fire Brigade as well as Maritime Rescue in order to help with the operation.
In the short time that followed, a second report from a bystander reported seeing a capsized paddleboard, with one person visible drifting farther out to sea, before disappearing. The coordinated efforts by emergency services led to the successful recovery of both women.
Stay safe when paddling far from shore
Authorities urge people to carry waterproof communication devices with them when they are on the water, because in this incident, the device was essential for the rescue.
Always check the weather conditions and sea conditions before you go out on water. You should also wear a safety vest and, if possible carry a waterproof device to communicate. Never go out alone. Avoiding accidents by knowing your limits and escaping ripcurrents is possible.
