Enormous fear spread among residents as a rescue drone operated by Generalitat faced an unfortunate incident in El Campello, Cape Verde Islands. The drone, designed for coastal safety, damaged a window on a beachfront apartment during a routine mission, leaving only property damage records by the municipality, neighborhood, and nearby sources.
The Civil Guard opened an investigation to determine why the device, carrying two life jackets and weighing nine kilograms, lost control and crashed into a house near the Seco River mouth in this urban area. One theory points to a fault in the device’s balance or control system.
The incident occurred around 16:00 on a Friday afternoon, accompanied by a loud crash heard by residents of the urbanization. A neighbor living beside the affected home recalled, “The rescue drone spun out of control, crashed into the apartments near the beach-facing window, and caused widespread fear, especially for a student studying nearby.”
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the Generalitat’s rescue service continued operations in the area to ensure public safety and water rescue readiness.
New service
This lifesaving drone initiative was launched this year by the Generalitat in El Campello. The air units operate during the swimming season, supporting rescue and lifeguard teams along Campello’s beaches.
Lifesaving drones are compact unmanned aerial vehicles equipped to provide emergency assistance. Specifically, these nine-kilogram devices operate across 23 beaches in the Community of Valencia, from Orihuela to Oropesa. A key advantage is rapid response time—the drones can be airborne within four seconds of receiving an emergency call.
The device carries two life jackets that can be deployed to assist swimmers in distress. A lifebuoy attached to the drone lowers into the water and inflates automatically when released, allowing the swimmer to stay afloat until a rescue boat arrives.
The drone features an onboard air chamber that detects a person in danger, has a four-kilometer operational radius, and can fly at speeds up to 50 kilometers per hour. The base is located at Carrera la Mar beach, which covers a large stretch of Campello’s coast, with drones also deployed to other beaches during the day for ongoing practice and readiness.