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A French traveler died in a Cancun hospital this week after being swept away by strong currents on a local beach. The case is the latest shocking incident in a string of drownings in the Mexican Caribbean as authorities continue highlighting the importance of beach and swimming safety.
The victim, who has been identified as Magaly, a French tourist, nearly drowned on Monday evening after heading out for a swim in Playa Delfines, one of Cancun’s top-rated Blue-Flag beaches. According to local media reports, strong currents suddenly swept the traveler deep into the sea, and the girl struggled to fight them as she attempted to swim back to shore.
At around 16:10 local time, a lifeguard sounded the alarm after passersby notified him of the drowning girl. The lifeguard then proceeded to rescue the victim, and she was quickly brought back to shore, apparently unconscious. Local paramedics rushed to the scene and attempted to resuscitate the girl, who had nearly drowned in a struggle to remain afloat.
Despite prompt action by first responders, the young traveler perished shortly after being rushed to Cancun’s La Joya Clinic, where doctors pronounced her dead. Magaly was administered CPR in several instances: first, at the beach and, later on, at the hospital.
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Playa Delfines is one of Cancun’s most popular beaches, and its proximity to many of the city’s top resorts makes it a hit among travelers. Being a Blue-Flag beach, Playa Delfines is also equipped with life-saving features, and lifeguards are typically on duty from the morning until late afternoon.
Mexican Caribbean Shocked By String Of Drownings
Several recent cases of drownings have raised alarms in the Mexican Caribbean, prompting officials to warn travelers about potentially dangerous swimming conditions. A tourist drowned three weeks ago in nearby Playa del Carmen, a popular resort hotspot just south of Cancun, after strong currents carried the tourist into the sea.
Despite the lifeguards’ quick reaction, the tourist was pronounced dead on the spot after consecutive attempts to resuscitate. In another shocking case late last year, an American traveler nearly drowned in Cancun’s Playa Delfines after going for a swim when strong waves suddenly swept the man away.
Follow These Important Swimming Tips
Past instances of drownings and close calls are an important reminder to travelers to follow rules and to swim with an abundance of caution. One of the most important things visitors can do is to take note of the Mexican Caribbean’s color-coded warning system, which indicates swimming conditions based on weather and wave intensity.
Travelers can look for flags, usually displayed close to the main entry points, which can have several different colors. A green flag means conditions are safe, but even so, travelers should stay close to shore. Meanwhile, a yellow flag indicates mild waves, and more caution is urged while swimming. The last two categories, red and black, point to unsafe weather or sea conditions, and swimming should be avoided at all costs.
Inexperienced swimmers are urged to stick to the Mexican Caribbean’s main public beaches, including those found in Cancun’s hotel zone, Isla Mujeres, and Playa del Carmen’s downtown area. More remote locations don’t have lifeguards, so travelers are advised to stay close to shore and to always have someone monitoring them.
Lastly, it’s important to recognize the signs of a drowning person, which aren’t always apparent. Some of the main things to look for include struggling to stay afloat or having the head tilted back with the mouth open. If you spot someone drowning, always alert a lifeguard or emergency services prior to assisting them.
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Judith A Ellement
Friday 3rd of March 2023
There have been several drownings in the past month. Between the Grand Solaris and Solymar there has been 3 drownings in February.
All rescued CPR was performed on all. But unfortunately they all died. The lifeguards whistle a lot but many people ignore the warnings, thinking they are great swimmers. One thing they should always remember is you can’t win against the ocean. There’s a very strong undertoe and the current has a mind of its own.
There’s a young girl on Monday at the Solymar that was rescued she was dead when they got her out. But luckily revived. Paramedics took her to the hospital where she spent the night. She decided to go back home because she had swallowed a lot of water and was also in shock from being dead and brought back to life several times. She had only been here one day.
Liz
Wednesday 22nd of February 2023
Very good article, clearly written, good information! Tourists should always stay in the shallow waters and have a friend watching in case they need help.