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An American tourist visiting Cancun is lucky to be alive today after having to be rescued from drowning at one of the area’s beaches. According to reports, the man did not know how to swim but entered the water at Playa Delfines anyway. Unaware of the strength of the waves, the man was swept away to a point of no return since he was unable to swim back to shore.
Playa Delfines, also known as Dolphin Beach, is one of the favorites of tourists who visit Cancun because it’s one of the only beaches in the Cancun Hotel Zone that isn’t full of hotels and restaurants. It’s a long stretch of beautiful white sand alongside bright blue-green crystal-clear water. It is a public beach and free to visit, so it’s also one of the busiest beaches in Cancun, but the views from the El Mirador lookout platform can’t be beaten, so it’s definitely worth visiting.
While Playa Delfines is famous for its natural beauty and beautiful views, it is also known for its rough waters. The water conditions often put unsuspecting swimmers in danger, particularly if there is no lifeguard on duty. The undertow can be especially strong at certain times, so it’s important to pay attention to the water condition flags posted on the beach when visiting.
The beach conditions flag warning system includes:
- Green Flag – Water conditions are calm and are generally safe for swimming.
- Yellow Flag – Water conditions are mildly calm, and caution should be used when swimming.
- Red Flag- Water conditions are dangerous, and swimmers should be extremely cautious.
- Black Flag – Water conditions are unsafe, and swimming should be completely avoided.
It is not clear if there were any beach warning flags posted at the time the unnamed American tourist entered the water, but he was swept up in strong waves. This caused him to be pulled underwater, and he was not able to fight the pull. Fortunately, the man’s friend noticed what was going on and alerted the lifeguards on duty, who immediately entered the water to rescue him.
After being rescued from the water by the lifeguards, Civil Protection agents, Tourist Police, Firefighters, and an ambulance arrived at the scene. First aid was immediately given, and the man was transported to a nearby hospital. There he was further checked out and given the medical care he needed.
This is not the first incident like this that has happened on Cancun’s beaches this year; multiple rescues have taken place throughout the year, and a number of actual drownings as well. During the busy spring months, a Russian tourist was rescued by lifeguards after he was pulled out to sea by a riptide while swimming at Playa Gaviota Azul in the Cancun Hotel Zone. Additionally, back in March, a Canadian tourist was rescued from a beach near a Secrets hotel in Cancun when police officers heard her screaming and alerted lifeguards after a riptide began to pull her out to sea.
During the busy seasons, there are many similar incidents that take place, and not all of them have happy endings. A tourist from Paraguay that was visiting Cancun for a wedding this past year was not so lucky, his body being found washed ashore days after he was swept out to sea due to water conditions. It is incidents like this that should remind tourists that beach conditions and beach safety should be taken seriously because not all drowning rescues are successful, and this American tourist is very lucky to be alive.
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