Overview

• Catalan authorities report 16 beach drownings from June 15 to July 31, five more than in the same period of 2024.
• A 67-year-old kayaker died in Nerja on July 31 after falling ill and entering cardiac arrest during a guided trip.
• The daughter of a man who drowned in Palma’s Germans Escalas pool alleges removal of an anti-drowning detection system, prompting a municipal review of licensing conditions.
• Families and water safety advocates are calling for a unified lifeguard service and mandatory pool monitoring to address inconsistent safety standards.
• Regional and national bodies have launched probes into lifeguard negligence claims and are poised to tighten water safety protocols across beaches, pools and inland waters.