Gran Canaria and Tenerife were the islands with the most deaths and the beach is confirmed as the area with the most accidents, almost half
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Jan. 1 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Association ‘Canary Islands, 1500 km of Coast’ report this Sunday that in 2022 a total of 74 deaths due to drowning were registered on the islands.
This figure represents an increase of 16% compared to 2021 (64) and 31 more than in 2020, in which 43 people lost their lives.
85% of accidents in the aquatic environment were caused by recklessness and ignorance, ignoring the red flag and the recommendations of the lifeguards.
During the month of December alone, a total of 22 people affected by accidents in aquatic environments in the Canary Islands were recorded.
Of these, 8 were deceased, in addition to 1 bather in critical condition, 2 serious, 6 moderate, 3 mild and 2 rescued unharmed.
The monthly mortality on the coasts and aquatic facilities remains at an average of 6 bathers, exceeding the same period of the two previous years, with people per month in 2021 and three people per month in 2020.
These data are prepared by the promoters of the first audiovisual campaign of the EU for the Prevention of Accidents in the Aquatic Environment ‘Canarias, 1500 Km de Costa’, an initiative of public interest sponsored by the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, official collaborator of ADEAC- Blue Flag Spain and with the support of the Government of the Canary Islands, the department of Ciudad de Mar de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the Elder Museum of Science and Technology.
The data handled for the preparation of this study are obtained from official sources, 90%, specify from the association in a note.
208 ACCIDENTS IN AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTS JANUARY-DECEMBER
To the 74 registered deaths, there are 10 injured in critical condition, 23 serious, 45 moderate, 21 light and 35 rescues.
From January to December, 75% of the identified deceased were foreigners of up to 12 different nationalities: Poland (3), Germany (7), United Kingdom (1), Holland (1), Norway (2), Ireland (2) , Portugal (1), Sahara (1), Italy (2), Argentina (1), Sweden (3), Colombia (1) and Foreigners (5).
By age, 37% were over 60 years old; 32% were adults and 3% were minor victims.
By sex, 80% (59) of the fatalities were male, while 20% (15) were female.
By activity, 69% of the deceased were bathers, 8% fishermen, 8% water sports users, 7% divers, and the remaining 8% correspond to other characteristics.
GRAN CANARIA, LEADING THE LEAD IN FATAL DROWNINGS
By islands, Gran Canaria is at the top of the ranking, with 21 deaths; followed by Tenerife, with 20 fatalities; Fuerteventura, 16; Lanzarote, 9; La Gomera, 5; La Palma, 2; El Hierro 1 death while La Graciosa did not register any death by drowning.
The beaches continue to lead as the environment in which the most fatal accidents occurred, with 47% of the cases, followed by ports and coastal areas, 35%, swimming pools (6%) and natural pools, ( 12%).
In the afternoon, 72% of fatal drownings were recorded, compared to morning (23%) and night (5%).
