Edition 278
www.thecourier.es
Friday 1st July 2016
TRAGIC LESSON
BY ALEX TRELINSKI
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57-year-old British bather who blatantly ignored calls from lifeguards to get out of the water at an Orihuela Costa beach, in addition to flouting the red flag warnings, paid the ultimate price on Monday, when she died. The ignorant tourist went for a dip at Playa La Glea,
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Campoamor on the Orihuela Costa on Monday afternoon despite “no swimming red flags” having been deployed in the area. The woman, who was on holiday with her husband at San Pedro del Pinatar, refused to come out of the water after repeated pleas from the lifeguards and
then got into trouble. Two lifeguards, hailed by her worried husband, then risked their own lives by pulling her out of the sea but 45 minutes of attempted resuscitation by them and SAMU paramedics ended in failure. Coastal councillor, Sofia Álvarez, said that the cause of death was
either through a cardiac edema or drowning due to the strength of the current, with strong winds prevalent along the coast on Monday. The councillor said that swimmers must observe the red flags which are flown to save lives as well as protecting the safety of the lifeguards if they have to go into the water. The lifeguards involved in Monday’s operation came from the Ambumar company, who are providing a temporary beach service ahead of the award of a delayed two year contract for the Orihuela Costa. The following day in Guardamar, four Cruz Roja lifeguards had to pull out a couple from the water due to strong currents. The husband and wife aged in their sixties had ignored the red flags that had been hoisted at La Roqueta beach.
RAJOY BOOST
cting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy won the most seats in Spain's second general election in six months last Sunday which produced a similar result to December’s stalemate, with the PP well short of an overall majority. The PP did better though than the opinion polls suggested getting 33 percent of the vote, and the Socialist PSOE defied the pollsters coming second and beating off a challenge
from the Unidos Podemos alliance which finished a disappointing third whilst the centrist Ciudadanos came fourth. The vote has failed to break six months of political deadlock since December's inconclusive poll. But Rajoy said he had a right to resume office as the PP emerged strengthened from the election, beating expectations with 137 seats in the 350-strong lower house of parliament — 14 more than in
December. The extra seats give Rajoy more clout in coalition negotiations, coupled with the fact that parties are under pressure to succeed where they failed last time and reach a deal to avoid holding yet more elections. The PP leader said he was aiming to form a government by early August but opposition parties could still come together to offer an alternative administration, with Rajoy’s best bet being a
deal with Ciudadnos, who won 32 seats.
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