Be aware of cold water shock in Tenerife - it can be fatal

[Janet]

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

[Janet]

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

[Guanche]

The sea is like a mill pond here. I just don't understand these deaths. Very sad.

[Janet]

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, 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.

[Guanche]

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.

[Janet]

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.

[Guanche]

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.

[Michael]

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? 

[Janet]

Yes,  I'd have thought so ... the greater the contrast between body heat and water temperature ... seems likely ...

[Janet]

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