Beachgoers at Las Vistas beach in Los Cristianos, southern Tenerife, were caught by surprise yesterday afternoon when calm seas turned into a dangerous swell in a matter of minutes. Witnesses say conditions between 3pm and 4pm were relatively gentle compared to nearby El Camisón beach, which was already seeing stronger-than-usual waves. But within moments, the scene changed dramatically.
“The waves became enormous, putting swimmers at risk,” one bather told local reporters, reports Canarian Weekly. Lifeguards quickly cleared the water, warned visitors to remove belongings from the sand, and worked to help people to safety. By 4pm, waves estimated at three to four metres were breaking close to shore, with bystanders describing the normally sheltered bay as “dangerous and unusual.” Several beach umbrellas, towels, and personal items were swept away in the surf. Elsewhere on the island, rough seas caused even more serious problems. At the natural pool in Los Gigantes, footage from environmental group Canarias 1500 km de Costa showed around ten people trapped after ignoring warnings and entering the water. Four others were swept out to sea by the swell.
A GES emergency helicopter was dispatched to the scene, airlifting an Italian tourist to safety. He escaped without injury, but the incident underscored the risks of swimming in unmonitored areas during rough conditions. The association emphasised that the natural pool has no lifeguard cover and urged residents and visitors to respect safety advice.
Authorities have reminded beachgoers to obey red flags, follow lifeguard instructions, and avoid swimming in natural pools or unmonitored stretches of coastline during bad weather. The Canary Islands remain under warnings for rough seas, with waves of up to two metres forecast across many southern and western coastal areas.
The sudden swell comes after an intense heatwave that gripped the island until Thursday, with soaring temperatures drawing large crowds to the coast.
