One person died and two survived after the sailboat Mai Tai, carrying a crew of Russian descent, crashed into northern rocks and sank off Lanzarote in the early hours of this Wednesday. Emergency services and Maritime Rescue confirmed the tragedy, which unfolded near the island and prompted a coordinated rescue response.
The body of the deceased crew member was recovered on Saturday off Tinajo, in the sea where the vessel capsized overnight. The two survivors, men aged 52 and 40, were located in the early morning hours. One was found in the water by a Sea Rescue helicopter, while the other was located on land by Consortium firefighters following the distress signals and rapid search efforts.
The two men suffered hypothermia, and the younger crew member sustained multiple concussions. Both were transported to Doctor José Molina Orosa Hospital in Lanzarote, according to the Canary Islands Government Emergency and Security Coordination Center.
The Mai Tai had issued an alert at approximately 1:20 a.m. this morning, reporting its position north of Lanzarote. Maritime Rescue reported that the Las Palmas Rescue Center mobilized the Helimer 204 helicopter, the Concepción Arenal marine guard, and the Consortium’s firefighters to the scene.
After inspecting the helicopter wreckage around 2:40 a.m., rescuers proceeded to reach the first survivor in the water. It was confirmed that three people were traveling on the sailboat when it capsized after striking rocks.
All three crew members abandoned the vessel without wearing life jackets. A crew member relayed to rescuers that they had to perform a rapid evacuation; the survivor was evacuated by helicopter to Lanzarote airport, where an ambulance awaited to transport him to hospital.
Maritime Rescue sources indicated that the other crew member who was rescued by firefighters also reached the shore around 04:00 and was subsequently evacuated by Helimer 204 to a hospital for treatment.
The body of the deceased crew member was located around 10:10 a.m. by a helicopter belonging to the Canary Islands Government Emergency and Rescue Group and was transported to Lanzarote airport for identification and formal procedures.
Two helicopters attended the scene, one from Maritime Rescue and the other from the Canary Islands Government Emergency and Rescue Group. In addition, the Concepción Arenal marine guard, the Orotava 5 patrol boat of the Civil Guard, firefighters, and Local Police personnel participated in the response to the incident and provided ongoing support to the affected crew and their families. A number of factors, including weather conditions and sea state, influenced the careful search and rescue operations conducted by the responders. The accident underscores the dangers faced by small-sail vessels operating in the waters around the Canary Islands and the importance of swift, coordinated action by emergency services and maritime authorities. The investigation into the incident continues, with authorities examining vessel records, weather reports, and witness statements to establish the sequence of events and determine any contributory factors for safety improvements and future prevention.