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Brit tourist drowned in southern Spain while red flag was flying
Throughout Spain, a red flag on the beach means that swimming is absolutely prohibited
A 77-year-old British tourist has sadly died in Valencia in southern Spain after failing to heed the red flag flying on the shoreline, warning beachgoers that the water was too dangerous for swimmers.
The tragedy occurred on Tuesday August 27 on the Racó beach in Cullera, a pretty coastal resort very popular with visitors from the UK. Despite lifeguards explaining that the currents were dangerously strong and unpredictable on the day, the holidaymaker still ventured in for a swim.
He was pulled from the water, unconscious, at 11.30am and although rescue workers and paramedics performed CPR for more than half an hour, they couldn’t revive the elderly Briton and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
This summer has seen multiple similar incidents in Cullera, a popular tourist destination but by now infamous for its hazardous currents. Over the past couple of months, two other swimmers have lost their lives, and another two had to be rescued by lifeguards.
A 56-year-old man drowned on August 1 at Racó, and another person met the same fate on July 13 at the nearby San Antonio beach.
Red flags are a common sight on Spanish beaches, even during the summer months, and they indicate strong currents, high waves or other dangerous conditions.
It's important to heed these warnings, as ignoring them and entering the sea can not only be life-threatening but also result in fines.
Image: Cullera via Wikimedia Commons
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