Two Guardia Civil officers successfully rescued an 18-year-old man from the sea on Friday afternoon after he got into difficulty while swimming in natural pools on the coast of Antigua in Fuerteventura.

According to the Canary Islands Emergency and Security Coordination Centre (CECOES), the emergency call was received at 5:20pm, reporting that a swimmer was in distress and needed urgent assistance.

The two Guardia Civil officers reached the young man first and safely brought him out of the water.

A rescue helicopter was also dispatched to the scene. Rescuers were lowered from the aircraft in case an air evacuation was required, but this wasn’t necessary after the swimmer was safely rescued.

Treated for hypothermia

After being assessed by paramedics, the 18-year-old was found to be suffering from moderate hypothermia.

He was taken by a Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC) ambulance to Fuerteventura General Hospital for further treatment.

Emergency services have not released further details about how the young man got into difficulty.

Stay safe around natural pools

The Canary Islands Government regularly reminds swimmers to take extra care when visiting natural pools and rocky coastal areas, where changing tides, strong currents, and powerful waves can quickly create dangerous conditions, even when the sea appears calm.

Visitors are advised to check sea conditions before entering the water, avoid swimming alone, and never enter natural pools when warning flags are displayed or rough sea conditions are forecast.