There has been another resuscitation today after a 70-year-old man, said to be a foreign holidaymaker, nearly drowned in El Médano at 12.45 this lunchtime. Emergency services were called out with reports that lifeguards had pulled the man unconscious from the water; between their efforts and those of the paramedics who attended the scene, he was stabilized and then transferred to Candelaria hospital where he remains critically ill, but alive. JA (http://www.janetanscombe.com/news/another-resuscitation-from-drowning-this-time-a-70-year-old-holidaymaker-in-el-medano.html)
Within just two hours of the rescue at El Médano below, there has been another incident, this time tragically fatal, in Playa del Cangrejillo in El Sauzal, north Tenerife. It was at 2.40 this afternoon that a 45-year-old man was found floating in the water, and emergency services were called while he was pulled onto the beach by a local policeman and a fellow bather. Paramedics could do no more, however, than confirm his death. JA (http://www.janetanscombe.com/news/another-resuscitation-from-drowning-this-time-a-70-year-old-holidaymaker-in-el-medano.html)
The sea is like a mill pond here. I just don't understand these deaths. Very sad.
It's cold water shock, unbelievable as it sounds considering that we don't have what people would consider "cold" water. Experts say that cold water shock can affect people even with water temperature of up to 25º. It's not just freezing water that is dangerous, and scuba diving specialists say that the Canaries' water temperature doesn't get above 24°C (75°F) even in August.
People sunbathe and then go in the water where they can get into difficulties within five minutes. Some have a sensitivity to "cold" water, and this increases with age, which might account for why so many of these fatalities or near fatalities are middle aged or older. Even those who have no such sensitivity as such can produce one by alcohol.
I'm going to try to get a medical piece written to put on my website and start banging on about this until people are bored ... but informed. In the meantime, have a quick look at THIS (http://www.seakayakermag.com/2008/Feb08/cold-shock.htm), which is typical of many such professional level websites giving advice on cold water shock. Let's hope somehow we can cut the numbers down in Tenerife because this happens year after year.
Did you mention the one a few weeks ago Janet in Guima a 70+ year old male, found floating in the sea. Only he was a neighbour of ours, we just found out. The wife was speaking to his wife this morning and they still don't know the cause of death.
No I didn't post it, Guanche, because there was so very little information available on it, not even a clear location was mentioned. It's all so tragic ... and all so unnecessary.
It was in the little port in Guima. He went there almost every day which was quite amazing really as he could only shuffle around on the street.
I do see a lot of people who lie for ages on the beach in the sun there and then go in the water to cool off. Would they be particularly at risk? :undecided:
Yes, I'd have thought so ... the greater the contrast between body heat and water temperature ... seems likely ...
A 56-year-old man drowned at 2pm this afternoon at Playa de las Teresitas in Santa Cruz. The poor soul was pulled from the water and emergency services were called, but despite prolonged attempts to resuscitate him, paramedics could not bring him back to life and he was pronounced dead at the scene. Please be aware of the risks of cold water shock in Tenerife waters. JA (http://www.janetanscombe.com/news/another-resuscitation-from-drowning-this-time-a-70-year-old-holidaymaker-in-el-medano.html)
A 70-year-old man said to be a foreigner drowned shortly before 4pm this afternoon at Playa Honda in Playa de Las Américas. Emergency services received a call to say that the poor soul had been pulled unconscious from the water and that fellow bathers were trying to resuscitate him. Their efforts were sadly unsuccessful, and on their arrival, paramedics were also unable to do anything for him and he was pronounced dead at the scene. JA (http://www.janetanscombe.com/news/another-resuscitation-from-drowning-this-time-a-70-year-old-holidaymaker-in-el-medano.html)
Oh god, another one.....
editing the thread title ...
Bloody hell! Again?
Emergency services have resuscitated a 68-year-old man who was pulled unconscious from the water just after midday in La Caleta. Paramedics mercifully managed to bring him back to life and having stabilized him, transferred him to Hospitén Sur where he remains in critical condition, but alive. JA (http://www.janetanscombe.com/news/another-resuscitation-from-drowning-this-time-a-70-year-old-holidaymaker-in-el-medano.html)
Emergency services have resuscitated a 70-year-old Finnish woman who was pulled unconscious from the water at 3pm this afternoon at Playa del Camisón in Playa de las Américas. Paramedics mercifully managed to bring her back to life and having stabilized her, transferred her to Hospitén Sur where she remains in critical condition, but alive. JA (http://www.janetanscombe.com/news/another-resuscitation-from-drowning-this-time-a-70-year-old-holidaymaker-in-el-medano.html)
We seem to have had a lot of these incidents this year?
no more than usual, G, but I'm on a mission to bring it to wider attention, so am posting the lot this year ... each time with a reference to cold water shock ...
The body of a 60-year-old woman was found at midday today in the sea at Playa Fañabé. The beach lifeguard recovered the body from the sea and brought it into Puerto Colon in an inflatable craft, but emergency services, which were already there waiting, were sadly unable to do any more than confirm the poor woman's death at the scene. JA (http://www.janetanscombe.com/news/another-resuscitation-from-drowning-this-time-a-70-year-old-holidaymaker-in-el-medano.html)
If ever the value of the Arona lifeguards was on display it is with the successful resuscitation earlier today of an Irish woman in her 60s at Playa del Camisón. Emergency services were called shortly after midday with reports that the woman had been pulled unconscious out of the water by the lifeguards and was in cardiac arrest. When paramedics arrived they took up the lifeguards' own efforts and managed to resuscitate her. She was transferred to Hospitén Sur where she remains in critical condition, but alive. JA (http://www.janetanscombe.com/news/another-resuscitation-from-drowning-this-time-a-70-year-old-holidaymaker-in-el-medano.html)
A 70-year-old German bather died today at Playa El Bobo on the Costa Adeje. Emergency services were called shortly before 3pm with reports that the poor man had been pulled unconscious from the water, but despite efforts of lifeguards and paramedics, he was in cardiac arrest and all resuscitation efforts were fruitless. He was declared dead at the scene. JA (http://www.janetanscombe.com/news/another-resuscitation-from-drowning-this-time-a-70-year-old-holidaymaker-in-el-medano.html)
A 55-year-old man is critically ill this evening after suffering a heart attack while swimming at Playa de las Américas. Emergency services were called at 6.14pm with reports that a person was in difficulties in the sea, and once paramedics had confirmed that he was in cardiac arrest, they started resuscitation attempts which were mercifully successful. Once the bather was stabilized, he was transferred to Hospitén Sur where he remains seriously ill, but alive. JA (http://www.janetanscombe.com/news/another-resuscitation-from-drowning-this-time-a-70-year-old-holidaymaker-in-el-medano.html)
Emergency services were called shortly after 2pm this afternoon with reports of a disappearance in the sea in the playa de Los Patos area of Puerto de la Cruz. Sadly, lifeboat crews discovered a man's body which has been taken into harbour in the town. The man was a German of 50 or so years of age who only arrived in Tenerife yesterday. JA (http://www.janetanscombe.com/news/another-resuscitation-from-drowning-this-time-a-70-year-old-holidaymaker-in-el-medano.html)