Brit tourists warned Canary Islands to fine parents if they don’t do one thing near water | World | News
A tragic toll of swimming deaths in and around the Canary Islands has led to calls for parents who don’t supervise them to be held accountable.
The new proposal is gaining ground after 15 drownings this summer, with the association Canarias, 1,500 km de Costa pushing for legal action to hold parents or guardians accountable for neglect.
In July, at the height of the summer, there were nine drownings with six in August, making it the most this season since 2018.
There were a total of 42 accidents reported across the islands’ beaches, pools, and natural pools, affecting people of all ages.
They left one in critical condition, two with serious injuries, and 20 with moderate injuries.
Eleven children suffered water-related accidents this summer, with six happening in swimming pools and seven on beaches.
Association president, Sebastián Quintana described this summer as the worst in six years.
He said: “Fifteen lives have been lost to drowning in just two months – it’s heart-breaking.”
Eleven people drowned in the same waters during summer 2023.
He is convinced the deaths are largely down to a lack of parents keeping a close eye on children.
He said: “Out of every ten youngsters who drown, nine cases (90 per cent) happen because the adults responsible for them aren’t paying attention.”
The association’s own internal studies appear to support this statistic.
Mr Quintana highlighted a recent incident in Valencia, where parents were arrested after their seven-year-old nearly drowned in a community pool.
He said: “That child was moments away from losing his life. We need similar penalties here in the Canary Islands.”
He hopes the proposed fines would act as a wake-up call for parents by encouraging constant vigilance and monitoring.
