One man drowns, another rescued

Playa de La Calera on a calm day

A swimmer has drowned in the sea at Playa de La Calera, better known as Playa Maria, in Valle Gran Rey on New Year's Eve in the afternoon. The victim was 64 years old and of German nationality. He had been spotted by other swimmers in the sea and been brought ashore where attempts were made to resuscitate the man and an ambulance with a doctor arrived on the scene, but the victim was pronounced dead a short time later.

While this beach is generally considered to be a safe one, the sea conditions were rough at the time with very choppy waters and a strong south-easterly wind with gale gusts.

In a separate incident some time later another swimmer got into difficulties at the same beach. He too was spotted by other people on the beach who called the emergency services on 112 and brought the drowning man ashore while the ambulance with a doctor was on its way. The 49 years old man had a lucky escape as this time resuscitation was successful and he was said to be recovering well in the local health centre.

Woman drowns in Valle Gran Rey

Statue of Hautacuperche at La Puntilla

Yesterday morning a 67 years old German woman drowned at La Puntilla beach in Valle Gran Rey, La Gomera. The emergency services were alerted and arrived quickly at the scene but all attempts to revive the woman failed.

The beach at La Puntilla opposite 'Hotel Gran Rey' is generally considered safe for swimming in calm seas and the cause of the drowning is not yet known. 

Drowning on Christmas Eve

Playa de Santiago 

Yet another drowning happened on La Gomera's coast, this time in Playa de Santiago on La Gomera's south coast around 4:30 pm  on Christmas Eve. 

A male Swiss national, 71 years of age, was brought ashore apparently dead from the sea at the generally safe beach where he had been swimming.

The doctor and nurses from the nearby health centre with the assistance of the crew of an ambulance tried to revive the man but their efforts proved fruitless.

Only a few weeks ago a 77-year old Austrian had drowned at another beach on Gomera's south coast and a 45-year old man drowned at a dangerous beach west of Valle Gran Rey last week.

Another drowning at Playa del Ingles

News just in: A 45 year old man has drowned at the notoriously dangerous Playa del Ingles beach in western Valle Gran Rey on La Gomera this afternoon. Police and an ambulance were at the scene.
I always advise people not to swim at this idyllic beach even in calm conditions as there can be dangerous currents anytime. The exact circumstances of this latest drowning there are not yet known, but there is a fairly strong swell today, which further increases the risks there even if you only go in knee-deep. Many people have died at this beach over the years, including trained rescue personnel. 

Drowning on La Gomera's south coast

A  77-year-old Austrian named as Richard Liedolter and thought to be a tourist was swimming in the sea off Playa del Medio near Playa de Santiago on La Gomera's south coast at around mid-day last Saturday when he apparently to get into difficulty.  Other swimmers in the area came to his assistance and he was brought ashore but found to be unconscious. The ambulance was sent from the health centre in Playa de Santiago but the accompanying doctor's efforts to revive him proved unsuccessful and it was established that he had suffered a heart attack.