Shortly before 4 p.m., Etel’s Regional Operational Center for Surveillance and Rescue was “alert by the Seignosse beach station in the Landes that a fishing-excursion type vessel with two boaters on board was caught in the swell and s returned to less than 150 meters from the shore, ”says the press release from the maritime prefecture.
A search and rescue system consisting of a Navy helicopter, a fire ambulance, an SNSM jet ski and a ground patrol of the gendarmerie was engaged to rescue the two boaters. One of the two people finally managed to get free and was taken care of by the lifeguards of the beach station while the other remained stuck in the boat.
‘Obviously unconscious’
The latter managed to extricate herself but was recovered by a rescuer, “obviously unconscious”. Despite the first aid measures given on the beach, the victim could not be resuscitated and his death was declared by the Samu on his arrival.
“Faced with this tragedy, the Atlantic maritime prefecture reiterates the warning issued (Sunday) as to the dangers represented by the wind and the strong swell present since last Saturday on our coast and recommends to boaters and water sports enthusiasts to defer their outings until the return to milder weather conditions”, underlines the maritime safeguard authority in Brest.