On Wednesday afternoon, firefighters from the Ayuntamiento de Cartagena came to the rescue of a sixty-year-old kitesurfer who was struggling to exit the Mar Menor. The emergency team reached her on a zodiac from La Manga and found her on the southern side of Isla del Ciervo. The operation commenced around five thirty PM.

The woman, a Spanish national, was successfully retrieved from the water using an inflatable boat and was showing mild signs of hypothermia after spending more than two hours in the chilly sea. Emergency services have urged kitesurfers to adhere to safety guidelines to prevent similar situations.

Recommendations include checking weather and wind reports before setting out, avoiding kitesurfing in gusty winds, storms, or conditions beyond one’s skill level, and not going out alone. It is also advised to inform someone on land about your plans or to practice alongside other kitesurfers.

Additionally, maintaining a safe distance from islands, rocks, and areas with unpredictable wind changes is crucial. Kitesurfers are encouraged to carry basic safety equipment such as life jackets, whistles, safety knives, and ideally, a locating device or VHF radio, as well as to plan their routes carefully.