ARCHIVED - Pioneering drone project saves drowning woman in Guardamar

The woman got into difficulties 150 metres out to sea in the Vega Baja, Alicante province

A woman was saved from drowning at a beach in Guardamar del Segura after a drone was launched to lower a life jacket 150 metres out to sea.

At around 1.30pm on Wednesday, August 25, the Red Cross Lifeguard and Rescue service activated the drone, which flew over the woman in distress and dropped a life jacket while a rescue boat made its way to her.

📹 Secuencia en la playa de Guardamar del Segura donde se ha socorrido, a las 13:30h, a una persona que se encontraba a unos 150 mts.

Había bandera amarilla por fuertes corrientes de retorno.#platgessegures#stopofegaments pic.twitter.com/TlVMo9CVF6

— GVA 112CV (@GVA112) August 25, 2021

Less than two hours later, a drone located two other swimmers in trouble at a Valencian beach in Cullera, 100 metres from the shore.

The pioneering life saving drone is part of a 'Stop Drowning' initiative launched by the Valencia regional government earlier this month, in which the eye in the sky monitors the coastline in 10 municipalities, including Guardamar, Benidorm, Javea and Denia.

The drones fly over the beaches and a little further out to sea, and notify lifeguards of the exact location of anyone in distress, facilitating vital first aid by launching an essential lifeline.

The effectiveness of the potential lifesaving tool is being evaluated with a view to possibly implementing them in all coastal municipalities in the region.

On this particular occasion a yellow flag was flying due to strong currents and the bather was being dragged out to sea, prompting a warning to heed "signs indicating danger in the water".

IMAGE: GVA 112CV