A brave off-duty officer of the National Police saved a young woman’s life as she struggled in the water at Puntagorda beach, located in the town of Candelaria.
Despite the incident being reported only on Wednesday, it took place around 8:30 p.m. last Thursday, a time when lifeguards had already concluded their duties.
While strolling with his daughter along Avenida Marítima de Candelaria, the off-duty officer observed a group of people gazing out to sea. He then spotted two young women being carried away by the strong currents beyond the protected area by the breakwater, due to the storm conditions.
Witnessing a civilian diving into the water to rescue one of the girls, the officer sprang into action, navigating through the rocky jetty to swim towards the other young woman who was struggling to stay afloat.
After successfully bringing her to safety on land, she received assistance until medical services arrived. She was then transferred to the Candelaria Health Center for further treatment by the healthcare professionals.
Thanks to the swift response of the National Police officer, the young woman is now safe, and her family managed to reach out to the officer to express their gratitude for his quick thinking and dedication to public service, as detailed by the police force.
The National Police also highlighted that the officer who rescued the young woman had received specialised training in water rescue.
This training, conducted annually in cooperation with professionals from the Military Emergency Unit, equips National Police officers with the necessary skills to effectively intervene in aquatic emergencies and provide timely assistance in hazardous situations.
