SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 1st of May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
As per the data provided by the Association for the Prevention of Accidents in the Aquatic Environment ‘Canary Islands, 1500 Km of Coast’, backed by the Cabildo of Gran Canaria in collaboration with the Departments of Tourism and Ciudad de Mar of the City Council of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the Elder Museum of Science and Technology, a total of twenty individuals lost their lives to drowning incidents on the coasts of the Canary Islands between January and April. This figure represents a decrease of three casualties compared to the same period last year.
Apart from the fatal drownings (20), the data also reflects six bathers in critical condition, seven individuals with serious injuries, fifteen moderate cases, and eight minor incidents, alongside eight successful rescues of unharmed individuals.
Among the deceased identified by nationality were three Spanish victims, two Germans, one Chinese, one Czech, and thirteen of unknown nationality.
Two of the casualties during this period were minors (10%), while 40% were adults (8); 25% were over 60 years old; and the age of 25% of the victims was unknown (5).
Additionally, the report indicates that 95% of the fatalities were male (19), with only one female casualty.
Regarding the activity they were engaged in, 65% of the deaths occurred among bathers (13), 15% among fishermen (3), with one each involving a water sports enthusiast, a scuba diver, and two individuals falling under the ‘other’ category.
Tenerife recorded the highest number of casualties (8), followed by Gran Canaria (5), Lanzarote (3), Fuerteventura (2), La Palma and La Gomera with one each, while there were no fatal incidents reported in El Hierro or La Graciosa.
Beaches accounted for the majority of accidents at 58%, followed by ports and coastal areas (23%), natural pools (14%), and swimming pools (5%).
The majority of incidents, 85%, occurred in the afternoon, with the remaining 15% taking place in the morning.
