Powerful wave in Tenerife leaves four swimmers dead after being swept out of ocean pool

"Crews recovered three bodies on Sunday a 35-year-old man, a 55-year-old woman and another man about whom no information was given during a major rescue operation that used jet skis and helicopters to locate and pick up people dragged out to sea. The fourth victim, a woman, died on Monday, a day after being revived at the scene and airlifted to a hospital."

"The pool at Isla Cangrejo, on Tenerife's Los Gigantes coast, is very popular with foreign tourists, according to local media. Bordered by volcanic rock on one side and walled off from the sea on the other, the pool sits at nearly sea level and can be very dangerous during rough seas when large waves can easily overcome the cement barrier. Local media reported that a weather advisory for rough seas was in effect at the time when the swimmers were swept out to sea."

"One media outlet reported that the pool had been closed to swimmers since 3 December. Residents said swimmers had ignored signs and fencing put up to prevent anyone from going into the pool because of the weather conditions. They said it's very difficult for anyone dragged out to sea to get a foothold on slippery rocks just below the pool."

A powerful wave dragged a group of swimmers out to sea at the Isla Cangrejo seawater pool on Tenerife's Los Gigantes coast, killing four and leaving one missing. Rescue crews used jet skis and helicopters to recover three bodies on Sunday; a fourth victim died on Monday after being revived and airlifted to hospital. Two victims were Romanian and two were Slovak. The pool sits nearly at sea level, bordered by volcanic rock and a cement barrier that can be overtopped in rough seas. A weather advisory was in effect and residents said swimmers ignored closure signs and fencing.

Read at www.theguardian.com