Lorraine Williamson
A six-year-old boy was rescued from drowning off the coast of Mijas on Saturday after being swept into a rip current. Five children had entered the water despite the red flag flying at El Peñón del Cura beach.
Four scrambled back safely, but the youngest was dragged around fifteen metres out to sea.
A double emergency
Witnesses say a man, believed by some media to be a lifeguard, leapt into the waves to help. He too soon found himself in trouble, overwhelmed by the current and unable to reach the shore. With both lives now at risk and rescue boats unable to approach because of rocks, the situation turned critical.
The chain that saved two lives
Beachgoers and lifeguards responded instantly as seen in these videos from Fuengirolasequeja. Linking arms, they waded into the surf to form a human chain. Inch by inch, they pulled the boy and the man back to safety. Paramedics checked them on the beach: the child was unharmed and had swallowed no water, while the man was treated for exhaustion.
Confusion in media reports
The dramatic rescue has been widely reported by Spanish outlets, including Málaga Hoy, Canal Sur, and Antena 3 Noticias. Most focused on the boy’s survival. Telecinco, however, claimed the rescuer was a lifeguard and that more than twenty people joined the chain – a detail not confirmed elsewhere.
“The sea doesn’t give second chances”
Gonzalo Botta, coordinator of Mijas lifeguards, used the incident to underline the danger of ignoring red flags. He urged swimmers to move parallel to the coast if caught in a rip current rather than battling against it. September, he warned, remains treacherous: fewer tourists are present, but older swimmers face higher risks of cardiac or respiratory distress, while shifting currents add to the hazards.
Stricter rules after summer of drownings
Andalucia is moving towards tougher penalties for reckless behaviour at sea. Under a new decree presented by the regional government, entering the water during a red flag will carry fines. The measure follows a summer in which 63 people drowned across the region. The rules are expected to come into force in 2026.
Safety before the waves
Mijas employs 62 lifeguards, and prevention campaigns are continuing beyond the peak summer season. Saturday’s dramatic rescue shows just how quickly danger can escalate in the sea – and how vital it is to respect the red flag.
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