Cardiac Arrest on Can Picafort Beach: Questions Remain and Ideas for the Future

Shock on the Beach: Response at Tower 2

It was one of those late-summer afternoons: the sun soft, children's laughter mixed with the shrill cries of seagulls, and the air smelled of saltwater and sunscreen. Around 16:44 the popular Can Picafort beach just behind the beach bar turned into an emergency scene. A visitor found a man motionless in the sand near Tower 2 and alerted the station. The event is covered in Can Picafort: Death on the Beach – Was There Enough Protection Against Water Hazards?.

Immediate measures – but a tragic outcome

Rescue personnel and the on-duty emergency officer rushed to the scene. After an initial examination, a cardiovascular arrest was diagnosed. Teams immediately began cardiopulmonary resuscitation, used a semi-automatic defibrillator and, according to witnesses, administered a total of four electric shocks; official guidance on how to perform CPR explains the aims of these measures. Additional ambulances and a SAMU-061 vehicle arrived within twelve minutes. Despite about 27 minutes of intensive resuscitation and a brief return of pulse, the man was pronounced dead at 17:35.

Key question: Could greater protection have been possible?

This question sits like a stone in the stomach of beachgoers: would faster access to medical information or different equipment have changed the outcome? We do not question the competence of the rescuers – many bystanders praised their rapid and professional actions. But the incident raises systemic questions that are often not discussed enough; similar cases such as Dead Tourist at Playa de Palma: An Accident Raises Many Questions further illustrate recurring concerns about beach safety.

Analysis: Availability and visibility of defibrillators

Semi-automatic defibrillators (AEDs) are available at many beaches, but their locations are not always clearly marked. An AED only helps if it can be found quickly. At Can Picafort, sand, umbrellas and people can obscure signs. A clear, standardized location per beach section and conspicuous, robust signage would save seconds. Equally important: regular maintenance and a visible indicator showing whether the device is operational, and clear instructions on how to use a defibrillator.

Communication and medical history

Tourists often lack information about pre-existing conditions or allergies. An internationally understandable emergency info card in a wallet or a medical emergency app that securely shares data could give helpers valuable minutes. Hotels, landlords and tour operators should more actively remind guests to carry such a card or to make emergency contacts visible on their smartphones.

Staff and local training

Alert lifeguards and trained rescue personnel are indispensable. Rescue teams in Mallorca usually do excellent work, but additional training for sudden large-scale incidents and more frequent first aid refreshers—especially during peak tourist seasons—could help. Local preparedness varies across the island, as discussed in Cardiac Arrest in Caimari: Are Mallorca's Villages Prepared for Medical Emergencies Involving Tourists?. Bystanders often take action, but uncertainty can hold people back. Refresher courses for hotel staff, beach service teams and frequent visitors would increase the number of helpers with basic skills.

Technical solutions and networking

Apps that show AED locations and link emergency calls to precise GPS positions already exist. What is missing is a unified system that connects local rescue services, lifeguards and volunteers. An easily accessible digital map of all operational AEDs on official Mallorca municipal sites and a hotline for lifeguard stations would be concrete steps forward.

Concrete proposals

1. Visible, standardized signage at every lifeguard tower with an AED symbol and maintenance date.
2. Emergency info card for travelers, bilingual and kept visibly in the room or wallet.
3. Regular AED checks and publicly accessible readiness lists.
4. Refresher courses for hotel and beach staff during the high season.
5. Networked app platform that displays AED locations, available rescue resources and the nearest SAMU units.

The imperative of the hour: learn from every response

Of course these proposals do not replace grief for the deceased. The municipality has expressed its condolences and the police are investigating the cause of death. Still: every incident is also an opportunity to review procedures and improve. The rescuers on site deserve respect and support—as do Mallorca's beaches, which need to become safer.

Our sympathy goes out to the relatives of the deceased. And an appeal to everyone: a small step for each of us—a clearly visible info card, a short first aid course—can make the difference in a critical moment.