Deadly surf and sweeping rescues
Spain’s emergency services said three people died and 15 were injured as powerful waves struck Tenerife on Saturday, with incidents spread across different coasts and rescue teams stretched by repeated calls, according to a Reuters report Sunday. A helicopter airlift from La Guancha ended with a man pronounced dead at hospital, while lifeguards in the south could not revive another man found floating off El Cabezo beach, and a woman died after a surge swept a group of 10 into the sea at Puerto de la Cruz, leaving several more hospitalized. Canary Islands authorities warned of ongoing coastal hazards and told residents and visitors to respect cordons at promenades and pools frequently hit by over-topping waves, emphasizing that injuries often occur when people underestimate “just one more photo” during strong swell events.

Safety lessons and climate context
Local officials said alert levels would stay in place while meteorologists track winds and swell direction, urging hotel operators, tour guides and surf schools to reinforce briefings on fast-changing conditions that can look calm one minute and violent the next, especially near harbors and natural pools carved into volcanic rock. While any single event cannot be blamed on climate change, scientists have documented shifting storm tracks and more energetic Atlantic swells affecting exposed coasts, and municipalities across the Canaries have begun installing better barriers, early-warning signage and remote cameras to close access points quickly. With winter holidays approaching and visitor numbers climbing, emergency services asked beachgoers to check advisories before sunrise outings, keep distance from splash zones, and call for help immediately rather than attempting risky, spontaneous rescues that often turn one victim into several.