A swimmer had to be rescued this Thursday by helicopter in a rocky area of Tarragona, between the monument to Sant Magí and Cossis beach, in the stretch located between Miracle and L'Arrabassada beaches. The alert to 112 came in a few minutes before 2:00 PM, when it was reported that there was a person in the water who could not get out due to the strong swell.
Aerial and maritime deployment on the coast of Tarragona
Following the alert, Salvamento Marítimo activated the helicopter Helimer 506, based at Reus airport, and the rescue boat Salvamar Formahaud. At the same time, Bombers de la Generalitat mobilized specialists from the GRAE subacuático unit based in Valls, in addition to three units from the Tarragona park and from the Brigada d'Emergències.
The intervention focused on an area of difficult access by sea. The presence of rocks and the strong swell prevented the vessel from being able to approach the point where the swimmer was, so the firefighters had to enter the water to keep him afloat while the aerial extraction was being prepared.
Hoisted at 2:22 PM
The rescue culminated at 14.22 hours, when the man was hoisted by means of the helicopter's crane. At that moment he was conscious, although exhausted, after remaining trapped in the water without being able to get out by his own means.
Once out of the risk zone, the rescued person was transferred by helicopter to Reus airport and from there by ambulance to Hospital Sant Joan, where he remained at the disposal of the health services for a medical evaluation.