A 72-year-old man died while bathing at Cura beach in Torrevieja around 11:00 this morning. Eyewitnesses reported that he was in the water and at one point several people reached the shore, only to discover that he was floating facedown. This tragedy marked the first death on the city’s main beach in the weeks leading up to the peak tourist period.
Resuscitation efforts began on the scene after bystanders alerted emergency services. Paramedics arrived promptly, but despite ongoing life-saving measures, the man could not be revived and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Local Police and the Civil Guard conducted the initial investigations. Preliminary information suggests the man was enjoying time on the beach with his wife when he suffered a heart attack while swimming. Reports indicate the deceased was of Galician origin and was vacationing with his family in Torrevieja. [Attribution: Local Police; Civil Guard]
A Cura beach, renowned for being the most central and popular stretch in the city, attracts large crowds as the temperatures rise. However, the beach currently operates without a dedicated lifeguard service. The city council typically begins lifeguard coverage on June 15, with some emergency coverage extended to weekends before the peak season. Local observers note that urgent medical responses to incidents involving older bathers are a recurring concern on Torrevieja’s beaches, underscoring the risk profile for senior visitors during the warmer months. [Attribution: City Council records; local health authorities]
Those who died near the shore on Cura beach are identified in records and memorials as residents of the region who were visiting with family. The incident drew attention to how quickly a dangerous medical event can unfold in the sea, even for experienced swimmers. The scene was photographed by local observers and later reported by regional press, with ongoing inquiries into the exact sequence of events and the precise time of death. [Attribution: Local witnesses; regional press]
The regional emergency coordination center mobilized its team to support Emergency Medical Care Services serving Orihuela Costa as part of a broader effort to assist Cura coast responders, given that the service was engaged at another location in Torrevieja at the time. The coordination underscores how the regional system can shift resources to safeguard beachgoers across multiple municipalities when needed. [Attribution: Generalitat emergency coordination center; Emergency Medical Care Service]
The SAMU foundation in Orihuela Costa operates from La Zenia, nine kilometers from Torrevieja’s urban waterfront, and provides essential medical response capabilities for coastal areas. Funeral services and courthouse personnel were dispatched to the area around 13:00 to manage the arrangements for the deceased, who had remained on the beach for more than two hours. [Attribution: SAMU foundation; local authorities]
Looking ahead, authorities expect a new lifeguard service to begin earlier, with the city council planning coverage for June 1 and the weekends immediately preceding the high season. However, full deployment and ongoing availability are contingent on budgetary and logistical factors, and some enhancements may not be reflected until the 2023 season depends on municipal planning and resources. [Attribution: City Council planning documents]
In summary, Cura beach remains a popular destination drawing large crowds as summer approaches, while the incident serves as a somber reminder of the importance of early-season safety planning and rapid access to medical response on crowded shores. Community leaders and safety officials continue to monitor conditions and adjust emergency protocols to better protect older beachgoers and other visitors during peak hours and warmer days.