ARCHIVED - Life-saving drone speeds up critical response times at Alicante beaches, Spain

Beach safety is being stepped up with drone technology at the Costa Blanca beach days after a device helped save a teen from drowning in Valencia

A drone lifeguard service has been rolled out at Alicante's Santa Pola beaches to speed up critical response times in the event of an emergency.

The local council has stepped up its maritime surveillance and rescue with drone technology to support lifeguards on the ground by dropping crucial life jackets to bathers in danger of drowning.

The unmanned aircraft will be based at Playa Lisa and has "a rapid response capacity to be operational in all areas Santa Pola in a very short space of time, from the moment an alert is raised on any beach", according to the Town Hall.

The pioneering service adopted in coastal towns and cities across Spain has already had an impact on the Costa Blanca and recently saved the life of a 14-year-old boy who got into extreme difficulty battling against a powerful tide off the coast of Valencia.

As the youngster began to be pulled underwater, a life jacket was dropped from the drone which kept him afloat until a lifeguard team arrived moments later.

"When we arrived we saw a kid who was in very bad shape, with almost no energy to keep afloat, so I sent over the life vest," Miguel Angel Pedrero, drone pilot for General Drones, the firm that supplies the technology, told Reuters.

"Because of the heavy waves it was a complicated manoeuvre, but we finally managed to give him the vest and he could float until the lifeguards reached him by jet ski."

The unidentified boy was sent to a local hospital and discharged 24 hours later.

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Santa Pola Town Hall has loaned its drone from the Valencia Government, which operates the service through the same company, General Drones. The AuxdroneLFG has a top speed of 85km/h and is operational for 25 minutes at a time with a maximum range of 3km. The drone is also able to take off from base in just five seconds.

Councillor for Beaches, Angel Piedecausa explained: "The drone has two life jackets which, if necessary, can be launched to bathers in situations of risk. In addition, the drone coordinates daily with the Lifeguard and Rescue services to act in case of any emergency."

Being so close to Alicante-Elche International Airport, the drone's flights will be limited to emergencies with a maximum height of 120 metres, and its movements will also be monitored by the airport control tower.

Seven other coastal municipalities in Alicante province now have unmanned drones on standby along their coastline:  Altea, Benidorm, Denia, Orihuela,  Javea, Guardamar del Segura and El Campello.

"We are improving our capacity to respond to possible drownings by being able to detect people in danger more quickly. The overall aim is of course to to save lives using all technical and human resources," added Councillor for the Interior, Gabriela Bravo.

A total of 140 people have lost their lives from accidental drowning in Spain in the first six months of 2022, up 55% on the same period last year, according to the Royal Spanish Lifesaving and Rescue Federation

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Image: Ayto de Santa Pola