A British woman was rescued from drowning on a Nerja beach, thanks to the prompt action of two key beach-going visitors: a policeman and a lifeguard.

The incident took place on Playa Carabeo when the cries of distress from a swimmer alerted policeman, Francisco Javier Martín stationed in Mislata (Valencia) and lifeguard Iván Mérida, who watches over beaches in Fuengirola. It was 15.30h, Monday the 26th.

The woman was floundering 150 metres from the beach and the two men, total strangers to each other, plunged into the water to go to her aid.

The lifeguard on duty alerted the sea-rescue jet ski operator, who took just a couple of minutes to reach her from the nearby beach El Salón. Even so, had the two men not heard the cries and immediately entered the water, she would have probably drowned.
The two men kept her afloat until the jet ski arrived and took her to the beach in a semiconscious state and where the 50-year-old woman was given oxygen.

Apparently, the woman had been with her family on Playa Calahonda and had swum around to Playa Carabeo about 600 metres away.

One of the two rescuers went to the area hospital to visit her to see how she was doing but she was in the ICU. He didn’t have another chance as he had to return from his holidays.

(News: Nerja, Axarquia, Costa del Sol, Malaga, Andalucia – Photo: still from video)