Playa del Carmen, Q.R. — A pair of paddleboarding tourists stranded at sea off Playa 88 Saturday morning were recused in Playa del Carmen. The pair were rescued by Civil Protection after being located 14 kilometers out to sea.
While paddleboarding around 7:30 a.m., the pair were pushed out by the strong winds and unable to return to the coast. Both the 26 year old man and 24 year old woman requested rescue assistance from emergency 9-1-1 after realizing they were stranded.
The couple from Argentina were located during a search operation that included a boat and jet ski. They were returned to shore at Playa Xcalacoco Saturday afternoon where they were met by paramedics.
In a statement, the Secretary of Protección Civil, Prevención de Riesgos y Bomberos de Playa del Carmen said “members of the Civil Protection, Risk Prevention and Fire Department of Playa del Carmen rescued a tourist couple who were stranded 14 kilometers adrift due to wind and waves while paddleboarding.
“The woman and man, ages 24 and 26, respectively, originally from Argentina, entered the sea around 7:30 a.m. at the beach located at 88th Street. However, the wind and waves dragged them out to sea, making it difficult to return, so they requested assistance from the 911 emergency number.
“After receiving the report, the rescue teams launched a search operation with support from local service providers aboard a boat and a jet ski. The couple was located and transported to the shore in the Xcalacoco area where they received pre-hospital care from Civil Protection paramedics.
“These actions are the result of ongoing training promoted by Mayor Estefanía Mercado’s administration to professionalize all personnel at the Civil Protection, Risk Prevention and Fire Department, headed by Secretary Darwin Covarrubias, in order to provide dignified and efficient care to the population.”
