An off-duty National Police officer heroically rescued a young girl from being swept out to sea at Puntagorda Beach in the municipality of Candelaria in Tenerife last Thursday, (July 11th), according to an official press release issued today. The officer, who had recently undergone training in water rescue, responded quickly to the life-threatening situation.
The incident occurred at around 8:30pm, after the beach lifeguards had finished their shifts for the day. The off-duty officer was strolling along the Avenida Marítima de Candelaria with his daughter when he noticed a crowd gathering near the shore. Upon closer inspection, he saw that two young girls were being pulled out to sea by strong currents beyond the safety of the breakwater, due to the stormy conditions.
Seeing a member of the public dive into the water to help one of the girls, the officer immediately sprang into action. He made his way across the breakwater rocks and swam towards the other girl, who was struggling to stay afloat.
Successfully reaching her, he performed a rescue manoeuvre to bring her back to shore and provided first aid until paramedics arrived, who then took her by ambulance to the Candelaria Health Centre for further medical attention.
The quick and decisive actions of the National Police officer ensured the young girl's survival, and her family have since reached out to the officer to express their heartfelt thanks for his bravery and dedication to public service.
The officer says that the successful rescue was significantly helped by his recent training in water rescue, which he had completed as part of an annual program. This training, conducted in collaboration with professionals from the Military Emergency Unit (UME), equips National Police officers with the necessary skills to effectively respond to emergencies in aquatic environments and provide instant assistance in critical situations.
Thanks to this rigorous training, he was able to handle the dangerous currents and execute the rescue with proficiency, demonstrating the critical importance of such programs for law enforcement personnel.