Three men rescued after small boat overturns off coast of Lanzarote
A small boat capsized off the coast of Arrecife yesterday afternoon (Wednesday), after being hit by a sudden swell, leaving three men in the water around 400 metres off El Cable beach. The incident caused a rapid rescue operation involving the Local Police officers and Salvamento Marítimo.
According to Spain’s maritime rescue service, the five-metre vessel flipped over after a suspected golpe de mar, a strong surge that caught the boat off guard. With their outboard motor already failing, they were left drifting and unable to make it back to shore.
Two officers from Arrecife’s Local Police Animal Protection Unit, who happened to be in the area, immediately spotted the men struggling in the choppy water. From the shore, it was clear that the situation was serious: one of the men was showing signs of exhaustion, while another was in a critical state and close to drowning.
Acting without hesitation, the officers grabbed a float and a rope before diving into the sea. They reached the three men, secured them together, and guided them towards the small harbour beside El Cable beach, near the Island Nautical Sports Centre. Additional officers were waiting and helped bring the men safely out of the water.
All three are believed to be around 35 years old and were rescued thanks to the quick action of the officers.
Meanwhile, the Salvamar Acrux rescue vessel managed to refloat the capsized boat and tow it to Arrecife port, where it was safely secured.
Arrecife had already activated its Municipal Emergency Plan (PEMU) earlier in the day due to weather warnings linked to Storm Claudia, which has brought rough seas and unstable conditions across the Canary Islands.
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