ARCHIVED - Drones to fly over Alicante beaches in pioneering project to prevent drownings

An eye in the sky will be deployed in a number of coastal towns including Javea and Benidorm on the Costa Blanca

The Valencia regional government has launched a new pioneering project to prevent drownings in which drones will monitor the coastline in 10 municipalities - including four in Alicante province - Benidiorm, Javea, Denia and Guardamar.

The 'Stop Drowning' initiative was launched in Javea today, Tuesday, August 3, when it was explained that the drones will fly over the beaches and a little further out to sea, and notify lifeguards of the exact location of anyone in distress.

🌊"STOP AHOGAMIENTOS"

🚩Respeta las banderas

🏊No te bañes solo si no estás en plenas facultades físicas

❌No te bañes sin socorrista
‼QUEREMOS VOLVER A VERTE‼#platgessegures pic.twitter.com/z0zSiFDOkl

— GVA Justícia, Interior i Adm. Pública (@GVAjusticia) August 3, 2021

In 2020, 61 swimmers drowned on the Valencian coast, and sadly, 23 have already lost their lives in the sea so far this year. 

"These are unacceptable figures. We can not stand idly by", warned the Minister of Justice and Interior, Gabriela Bravo during the launch, attended by regional president, Ximo Puig.

In addition to the extra efforts to prevent drownings, she warned of the need to raise awareness and inform the public that reckless behaviour in the sea can result in death". 

"Bathers should know how dangerous it is to bathe when the red flag is flying on the beaches, when there are no lifeguards or if they have a health problem", added the minister.

The advantage of the drones is that they can facilitate vital first aid by launching an essential lifeline, and over the next few weeks, the effectiveness of the potential lifesaving tool will be evaluated.

"We will see how they work and will study their possible implementation in all coastal municipalities", explained Bravo.

The ministry will work with the Valencian Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FVMP) and the Red Cross to "analyse the factors that influence drowning and determine where they are more frequent".

Meanwhile, Puig warned that "you cannot play with the sea", that "you have to know its rules, and the first is to be prudent". 

"We are putting all the instruments at the disposal of our municipalities to technify and improve the handling of emergencies", added the regional president.

IMAGE: GVA