Three People Drown This Summer in Fuerteventura

Canary Islands close the summer with 12 drowning deaths, a 20 % decrease compared with last year’s 15, according to data compiled by the “Canarias, 1500 km de Costa” platform.

Summer Drowning Statistics

• In the same period of 2023, 11 swimmers lost their lives; in 2022 the figure was 12, in 2021 nine, and in 2020 another 12.
• The monthly average from January to August this year is five deaths. July ended with three drownings, while August recorded nine, making August the deadliest month of the eight‑month span.
• By island: Tenerife, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote each registered three deaths; Gran Canaria had two, and El Hierro one.
• A total of 50 people suffered accidents on beaches, pools and ponds during the summer. In addition to the fatalities:
  • 4 swimmers were rescued from the sea in critical condition.
  • 11 people sustained serious injuries, setting a five‑year record for the highest number of severely affected victims.
  • 20 injuries were classified as moderate and 3 as minor.

Impact on Minors

• During the two summer months, 8 minors were involved in water‑related accidents across the archipelago.
  • 1 fatality.
  • 3 serious injuries.
  • 4 moderate injuries.

“Negligence costs the lives of 90 % of children who suffer a water accident, product of a lack of attention and supervision by the adults in charge,” the platform notes.

Public Initiative and Sponsorship

The data‑collection initiative is sponsored by the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, the Elder Museum of Science and Technology, and the Vice‑consejería of Physical Activity and Sports (under the Canary Islands Ministry of Education). It also receives collaboration from the Ministry of Territorial Policy, Cohesion and Water, the Tourism and City of the Sea departments of the Las Palmas City Council, and the airline Binter.