Suspense unfolded at a seaside urbanization in San Juan de Alicante when a lifeguard saved a seven-year-old boy from drowning in the private pool of a residential complex. Investigators from the provincial police indicate that the child was left without adult supervision, and the parents have since been detained on temporary neglect charges while the incident is investigated.
The child was removed from the water in a cardiac arrest state, a condition that was reversed thanks to the immediate CPR performed by the rescuer for about a minute and a half while waiting for an ambulance requested via the emergency number 112. The quick and decisive intervention likely prevented a tragedy from unfolding.
The events occurred around 5:00 PM on a Wednesday, shortly after the lifeguard began his shift at the Adra urbanization, located on the Holanda Avenue within the beachside district. Jaime Sánchez González, employed by Socorrismo Activo and responsible for the site that afternoon, described the moment. He recounted arriving to find a crowd of children anxiously signaling for help and realizing someone had fallen into distress. He noted that when he first approached, no one seemed to be assisting at the moment the incident began.
The rescuer explained that the child was carried out of the water and found to be in cardiac arrest state. CPR started immediately, with neighbors being asked to call the emergency line. The effort lasted about 90 seconds before the child showed signs of life. Paramedics arrived alongside local and national police units, and the lifeguard’s action was credited with saving the boy’s life. The child was transported by ambulance to Sant Joan Hospital for observation.
What happened next involved a shift in attention to the circumstances surrounding the rescue. The boy was alone at the time of the incident, with other children nearby, and his parents were not present. This detail prompted police to consider neglect as a possible factor in the incident. The parents, a 38-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman, were taken to the police station for questioning and are expected to appear before a judge in connection with the investigation.
Residents who witnessed the aftermath expressed relief and gratitude for the lifesaving actions taken. The scene on arrival saw several neighbors stepping forward to offer encouragement and support following the guard’s intervention. Authorities conducted interviews with witnesses to determine why the child was unattended when the accident occurred and whether proper supervision was in place during the family’s holiday stay in Alicante.
In the immediate wake of the incident, investigators focused on confirming the child’s condition and ensuring he remained under professional care. The hospital report indicated that following stabilization, the child was placed under observation. The case has since moved into the judicial phase as authorities assess charges related to temporary neglect of minors, with the parents in custody awaiting further legal proceedings.