A swimmer has been taken to hospital after being rescued by surfers at La Mata beach in Torrevieja. The incident happened at around 7pm on Wednesday, when strong easterly winds caused heavy waves at the southern end of the beach, an area popular with surfers.

The surfers noticed a tourist struggling to make progress in the water and calling for help. They brought the swimmer back to shore, where advanced life support medics, dispatched by the Valencian Emergency Coordination Centre, carried out resuscitation manoeuvres.

The patient was then carried on a stretcher to an ambulance and transferred to a medical centre with the assistance of Torrevieja Local Police, who also attended the scene.

La Mata is the largest beach in Torrevieja and is known for its quality waters and natural dune setting. However, it can be dangerous during easterly winds, with strong currents in some areas. Until 15 June, the town’s main beaches do not have full lifeguard services in place, although seasonal facilities such as beach bars and access points have already been installed.