Wednesday morning in the Canary Islands began with alarming news but ended with genuine relief. A young man who had gone missing near Castillo del Romeral in the south of Gran Canaria has finally been found alive. The search lasted nearly two days and involved not only water rescue teams but also aerial units.
The young man went out to sea late Monday evening to try to retrieve his personal watercraft, which had been carried away by the current. However, he soon lost contact, and all communication with him stopped. His family and friends raised the alarm, and the disappearance was reported to emergency services late that night. This triggered a large-scale search operation.
From early Wednesday morning, a Sasemar 103 plane circled over the sea, while rescue boats and a Civil Guard vessel scoured the area by water. At the same time, police surveyed the coastline. Rough seas and strong winds made the operation more difficult, but rescuers did not stop their work for a minute.
Around 11:30 a.m., the plane spotted a person signaling for help about 18 kilometers southwest of Arguineguín. The Guardamar Urania rescue boat was immediately dispatched to the site, and a Red Cross team was called to the port to provide first aid. The young man was brought ashore, where medical staff and police were already waiting for him.
It was found that all this time, he had been in open sea, drifting and trying to attract the attention of rescuers. His condition was assessed as satisfactory, despite fatigue and dehydration. The rescued man’s name is Layonel Ramírez Collado. His disappearance triggered one of the largest search operations in southern Gran Canaria in recent times.
The incident reminded island residents of the importance of observing water safety measures and the need to seek help immediately in emergencies. Rescuers noted that the timely call to emergency services and the coordinated efforts of all units made it possible to complete the search successfully.
