Drowning in Cofete

[F1REFLY999]

http://news2.thecanaryislander.com/?post_id=234&title=​drowning-in-fuerteventura#!

[Captain Sensible]

There was also a drowning in La Pared last Sunday.

[Archer]

Two males drowned on the same day (Sunday) within a few hours of each other. The west coast is extremely dangerous. Be warned.

[Ivemovedon]

It is very apparent that the west coast is not a good place for swimming. If you drown there you were plain stupid or reckless.
The east coast however is more dangerous as it seems a friendly sea. Especially the "calm" parts where there aren't any waves. This is where the rip tides can pull you out for an african trip and where many people drown because of their ignorance.

Don't you just hate the ' I told you so' attitude ?. Especially when someone has died. What a numpty.

[decho]

Very sad...members of this forum and the various Facebook groups are made well aware of the dangers but I really do wonder if enough attention is paid  to making ALL tourists aware of the dangers. I certainly did NOT know until I joined this forum and have now most certainly changed my behaviour.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Very sad indeed, but it's not just the tourists who ignore the dangers or get taken unawares by a rogue wave or rip, many locals have fallen foul of the sea on the west coast in recent years as well.

[Will196]

I really do wonder if enough attention is paid  to making ALL tourists aware of the dangers.

How would you? In my experience most people ignore the flags or don't know they exist. Some people ignore the life guards. I've seen lifeguards  having to threaten people to get them out of the water. The moment the lifeguards back is turned back in they went. 

[zedzedeleven]

Besides the fact that a rip tide usually last for 20/30 metres at maximum

This. Somewhere on the web is an explanation of how a rip is generated and how to react if you get caught in one. Rips are not inherently dangerous, surfers make use of them to get out to the breaks.

[decho]

I really do wonder if enough attention is paid  to making ALL tourists aware of the dangers.

How would you? In my experience most people ignore the flags or don't know they exist. Some people ignore the life guards. I've seen lifeguards  having to threaten people to get them out of the water. The moment the lifeguards back is turned back in they went. 

You will always get some people who ignore the warnings flags because they THINK they know better and it's very bad that they run the risk of putting the lifeguards lives in danger.in my experience it is the minority however.
Often there are red flags flying when the sea looks reasonably ok and maybe some people just don't know why the flags are red.....maybe they have never heard of rip currents, are there warnings all over the beaches? I cant rememberer seeing them if they are.

[Ivemovedon]

Was told by a lifeguard on the dunes a few years ago most of the incidents they have to deal with are old folks from the A/I hotels drinking and eating too much and getting into trouble in the water. Saw it happen with an old couple myself there once...although not sure if they had been on the lash. He drowned, and his wife in trying to help him had to be carted off to hospital. Not sure to this day if she survived.

So whats that?. An accident, or ignorance and stupidity?. Or a bit of both maybe. Hard to categorize when you don't know the full facts.

[Tamkid]

It is dodgy swimming in all areas of the coast around Fuerteventura apart from the sheltered coves. It might not be a bad idea if it was compulsory for airlines to issue Health and Safety Guidelines with your tickets depending on which country you are going to, or make it obligatory for all hotels to have notices in your room.

Anybody, no matter who you are, (intelligent or otherwise), can be in the wrong place at the wrong time, enjoying yourself are what holidays are about, you can just be very unlucky, god bless them and their families.

[Ivemovedon]

Agree 100% tamkid. Easy for those that visit the island countless times a year to cast judgement. For most of these people it is a one off holiday. Never been to the island before let alone the beaches, and can only rely on local information given in a 1 or 2 week period. No forum warnings for them, no advice about previous drownings by travel agents or hotel based holiday reps. It's downright insulting to describe them as stupid or ignorant without knowing the full details..

[Stranger Times]

When my Daughter was about 6/8 we holidayed around the flag beach jumping in the waves, only 3/4ft in so she could still stand and a large wave sucked our legs away  then smashed down on us.  My daughter was sucked away but as i was holding her hand tight I managed to hold on to her.  I remember opening my eyes under water at full stretch with her being pulled away looking at me. All bubbles and noise, surreal and frightening the power of the wave undertow was inescapable.  we surfaced 10m further out and made our way back straight to the beach.  After that we were content to stay with the breakers at 2ft in.  I have never let my children in any part of the sea without direct adult touch tight supervision.  I am no life guard or expert swimmer but we must respect the power of the sea.  To me it is easy to sea how even adults can be overpowered.  i always now pitch up near the lifeguards and take careful note of the flag status.   
Sorry to hear some have lost lives

[woe10]

Happens all the time. This is the Atlantic Ocean, a very powerful Ocean, especially on the West Coast with 3000 miles of powerful waves behind it.. People don't realise it. I've said it many times before, signs should be posted, but the Cabildos won't do it for some reason.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

There are signs on at least some of the west coast beaches but they are in a very poor state of repair now, I can imagine that some have succumbed totally to the elements. The ones I've seen have the Ayuntamiento's and Cabildo's names on so they have erected them at some point but not maintained them. Unfortunately not all people take notice of warning signs anyway. If they were maintained (so you can actually see and read them) it might save at least one life, got to be worth doing!

[Jock719]

There's a sign appeared down at Jarugo, instead of anything useful being on it, it just has the usual hectoring list of things that you are not allowed to do in case you might want to enjoy yourself on the beach....long list of no dogs, no stereos, no fires, no barbecues, not a word about the dangers of the sea. Sad all they want to do is cover the beaches with signs telling people what they can't do.

[calculator]

I think you lot are over reacting to all these drownings. If there were a few happening everyday it might be a concern. Otherwise, it's just one of those things!

In the World, Fuerteventura has the highest number of visitors per persons resident (official); Additionally, Fuerteventura has the best beaches in the world and something like more than 200, so it's not really surprising that people are going to drown. It's life.

The locals, fishermen, drug trafficers have being drowning , for decades.

My personal experience. Well, I can't even swim, yet I go in the water at all times of the year. Every time I go to Cofete, I go in the water and that's at the North end where I wouldn't be found! Same on the East coast, where the rip currents are.

The people that drown are either halfway to the grave already or they are the arrogant types, who think they are Olympic swimmers and want to put a show on for everyone else.

So, enjoy the water. It really is lovely all year round.

[suendrob]

And Never Ever go in the water after drinking.
As an invincible 19 year old, I was well used to the waters at Ventnor (Wight)in all weathers well into November each year.
One summer evening we had a beach party in a quiet, remote bay. After a few beers - but not as many as usual! - all in for a swim. One unexpected wave and I was the most frightened I've ever been, before or since. Three of us were helped on to our feet. We hadn't posted a lookout either. Steep learning curve. This was just in the English Channel, The Canaries are in the middle of the Atlantic.

Never go in any water without someone keeping dry and keeping watch.

[alex1977]

I nearly died in el cotillio, watched the body boarders having great fun so went and bought the board and flippers and came back the next day, at this point I hadn't noticed that there was hardly anyone there although the waves were the same (big mistake) bonus I thought and went out, not content with having a go in the white water I quickly went straight out and went for the big stuff..and it was big, anyway I ballsed up and ended up getting slammed was like being kicked downstairs underwater, surfaced to see it coming down just enough time to take a breath..I couldn't escape the cycle and took 4 hits..I stopped kicking as I started to give up, I was starting to drown I surfaced and new this was my last go and kicked for my life, I just managed to escape the pound but still couldn't get out! I remember digging my hands in the sand in 2 foot of water as the sea tried pulling me back..people walked passed completely unaware of the number two I was in..I got out and puked and lay there amazed I survived..without the flippers I would of been dead for sure,
I windsurf for nearly 30 years but didn't consider any danger...it's very easily done, I was humbled and learned and look at the sea with respect

[Tamkid]

Your wrong Calculator, really, really wrong.

[Snowdrop]

Alex1977 - thank you for sharing - and brave of you to do so if you know what I mean.  And as a surfer you must have had a greater understanding of the sea too.  Glad you are still hear to tell the tale and hopefully make another person think carefully before venturing into the ocean and maybe you have saved someone's life now without them knowing it. 🙂