Horror as Brit dies at popular Canary Islands beach as emergency services rush to scene

A British tourist has died after being rescued from the sea at Playa del Águila, also known as Playa de La Escalera, near El Cotillo in the north of Fuerteventura, on Thursday evening (May 28). Emergency services were alerted at around 5:30pm after reports that two people were in difficulty in the water off the popular beach in the municipality of La Oliva.

One of the swimmers managed to get out of the sea without assistance and was treated on the beach by paramedics. He declined further medical treatment. However, a second person of unknown age was found by rescuers from the Canary Islands Emergency and Rescue Group (GES) during a helicopter search. After being winched to safety, crews discovered he was in cardiac arrest and immediately began CPR while transporting him to a nearby landing area.

Once on the ground, paramedics, a medical helicopter crew and staff from a local health centre continued resuscitation efforts. Despite their attempts, they were unable to revive him, and his death was confirmed at the scene.

Beach rescue teams, Civil Protection volunteers, local police officers and firefighters also took part in the emergency response. The Guardia Civil has opened an investigation and is preparing the official report into the incident.

Playa del Águila is a wild, secluded beach on Fuerteventura’s rugged northwest coast, about three miles south of El Cotillo. Renowned for its untouched beauty, it features orange-gold sands, turquoise waters and dramatic volcanic cliffs, accessed only by a steep, 130-step rustic staircase, named La Escalera.

At high tide, the water reaches the cliffs and the beach completely disappears. There are no lifeguards, toilets, beach bars, or sunbed rentals.

Fuerteventura is the second-largest and oldest of Spain’s Canary Islands, situated around 60 miles off the coast of North Africa. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the north of the island is characterised by rolling white sand dunes of the Corralejo Natural Park, while the south is home to long stretches of uninterrupted coastline and the rugged, mountainous terrain of the Jandía peninsula.

Fuerteventura welcomes approximately 2.7 to 2.8 million tourists annually. With a local population of around 120,000 to 130,000 residents, the island hosts roughly 20 times as many visitors as permanent residents every year.