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WATCH: Video shows drone rescuing of drowning swimmer in Benidorm drill
Officials from across Alicante province were invited to see first-hand how drones can potentially save lives at sea
Drones are being put to more and more use in a variety of fields, from monitoring climate change to assisting in search operations, and this week their ability to save lives was put to the test in Benidorm during a simulated drowning at sea.
On Tuesday February 22, a team of experts from Umiles, a Spanish company that specialises in unmanned aerial systems (UAS), demonstrated how the Saturno drone can save vital minutes and potentially lives at Benidorm's popular Poniente beach.
"The first seconds are crucial in rescue operations and it is necessary to act quickly, safely and efficiently. Thus, Saturno, once it detects the location of the victim, delivers a life jacket in a controlled manner, which is automatically activated when it comes into contact with the water to keep the victim in an upright position.
"In this way, it is capable of delivering up to two life jackets in the first critical seconds before any other conventional means," explained Umiles.
In addition, the Saturno drone is equipped with a surveillance and prevention system that performs monitoring patrols along the surveillance zones and surrounding areas, gathering information in real time and assessing risk situations quickly, safely and effectively for ground personnel.
This particular model has been designed for the "most demanding beach rescue interventions and security operations in the most hostile environments", added company sources.
And its potential was demonstrated in front of police and Town Hall officials representatives from almost a dozen coastal municipalities in Alicante province, including Santa Pola, Villajoyosa, Alfaz del Pi, Orihuela, Calpe, El Campello and Altea.
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Images: Ayuntamiento de Benidorm
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