The 14-year-old was dragged away from the coastline at Lloret de Mar on the Costa Brava by a powerful wave and strong currents
A British teenager is said to be in a “critical” condition after being rescued from the sea at a Costa resort where she almost drowned. The 14-year-old girl, who was on a school trip, was swept away from the shoreline by a powerful wave and strong currents during an incident at Lloret de Mar on the Costa Brava on Saturday.
Local police officers jumped into the water to save her and emergency responders performed life-saving CPR on her on the beach for over half an hour after discovering she had gone into cardiac arrest.
After the teenager was stabilised at the scene, her condition was described as “critical” and she was rushed to the intensive care unit at Josep Trueta Hospital in the Catalan city of Girona.
There has been no update on her condition yet. For the biggest stories in Wales first, sign up to our daily newsletter here.
Video footage from the scene shows a man, believed to be a local police officer, who risked his own life to rescue her, being comforted by colleagues following his heroic act.
He appeared very emotional as he collapsed onto the sand before being led away, reports the Express.
It’s also been reported that firefighters entered the water to assist him in pulling the girl out after the alarm was raised at around 11.20am on Saturday, November 15. Afterwards, one of the rescuers had to be treated for hypothermia.
Another video released by Spanish media shows paramedics and police surrounding the young girl on the sand as they administered CPR. One of the police officers appeared to be holding a drip.
The emergency responders were later seen taking the British teenager away on a stretcher as shocked onlookers watched on.
The area was initially sealed off with police tape, which was later removed as the ambulance left the scene.
The young girl was part of a group staying at the four-star Maria del Mar Hotel in Lloret.
Eyewitness Carme Rigart recalled: “I was able to see the whole scene from the balcony of my flat opposite the beach. Very good work by the local police, fire brigade, the regional Mossos d’Esquadra police and, above all, Civil Protection workers.
“They managed to rescue the young girl and performed CPR, which saved her life. Hopefully, she will not suffer any lasting effects.”
Another onlooker, Cintiha Schenfeld, added: “I was there, and the police were among the first to arrive. They did not allow anyone else to enter the water because there were already two officers in, and until the fire brigade arrived with the appropriate equipment, no-one else was allowed in.”