A British tourist, reported to be at least 60 years old, died after being swept into the sea by a powerful wave at Los Gigantes natural swimming pool in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. Emergency services received the alert at 11:55 a.m. on January 27, 2025.
The incident occurred at the pool, known locally as Isla Cangrejo (Crab Island), near the Barcelo Santiago Hotel in the municipality of Santiago del Teide on the island’s west coast. The British man was among three people swept into the sea from the protected swimming area.
The rescue operation commenced immediately after the 11:55 a.m. alert. The GES (Grupo de Emergencias y Salvamento) rescue helicopter first spotted the man in the water while a Salvamento Marítimo rescue boat approached from the sea. The Tenerife Firefighters Consortium deployed teams along the rocky coastline to assist if the current brought the victims closer to shore. Beach lifeguards cleared the area of other swimmers while local police established a safety perimeter. The Canary Islands Emergency Service (SUC) medical team set up an emergency treatment zone at the football pitch landing area.
“Emergency services intervened in the rescue of three people who had got into difficulties in the sea in Tenerife,” said a spokesman for the regional government-run emergency response coordination center. He reported that the approximately 60-year-old man passed away after being found face down in the water. He was rescued by helicopter and transported to a nearby football field. Upon arrival, it was confirmed that he remained in cardiac arrest, and despite efforts to revive him, he passed away.
The British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed they are assisting the man’s family and contacting local authorities regarding the ongoing investigation.
The natural pool where the incident occurred sits at the base of the famous Los Gigantes cliffs, known for their dramatic 500-meter vertical rock faces dropping into the Atlantic Ocean. A concrete wall typically protects swimmers from waves, but online travel sites warn tourists that powerful ocean swells can surge over this barrier during high seas with little warning.
Regional emergency services had issued multiple warnings about dangerous sea conditions in the days leading up to January 27. These alerts highlighted the risks along Tenerife’s western coastline, where pools are located. The warnings emphasized that seemingly calm waters could become treacherous due to unexpected wave patterns and strong ocean swells.
The location where the incident occurred lies near the Charco El Tancon sea cave, where another British tourist was seriously injured in April 2024 after misjudging a jump onto rocks below. That incident prompted local authorities to increase safety monitoring in the area. Police investigators are preparing a detailed report for the regional court overseeing the probe. The investigation includes an analysis of sea conditions during the incident and eyewitness accounts from the two survivors.
A post-mortem examination has been scheduled at the local medical facility to determine the precise cause of death. Investigators will examine whether the victim drowned or suffered fatal injuries from impact with the rocks that line the natural pool area. The findings will form part of the Civil Guard’s comprehensive report to the local court overseeing the investigation.
