Deadly Tenerife Wave Claims Four Swimmers Pulled from Coastal Pool

Four individuals have died and another remains missing after a large wave swept swimmers from a well-known coastal pool along Tenerife’s western shore, Spanish officials confirmed Monday.

Rescuers retrieved three bodies on Sunday—a 35-year-old man, a 55-year-old woman, and a man whose details were not disclosed—during a large-scale effort involving jet skis and helicopters to locate those pulled into the ocean. A fourth victim, a woman, passed away Monday after initially being resuscitated at the scene and transported to a hospital.

Two of the deceased were Romanian nationals, and two were Slovak, according to their governments. No further identifying details were released.

The Isla Cangrejo pool, situated on Tenerife’s Los Gigantes coastline, attracts many visitors. Flanked by volcanic rock on one side and separated from the sea by a low concrete barrier, the pool sits close to water level and becomes hazardous during high surf, when waves can surmount its walls.

Reports indicate a weather alert for turbulent seas was active when the swimmers were carried away. One outlet noted the pool had been off-limits since December 3 due to conditions.

Local residents stated swimmers bypassed warning signs and barricades erected to deter access amid unsafe weather. They emphasized the difficulty of regaining footing on submerged, slippery rocks below the pool.

"Visitors often underestimate these coastal conditions," an unnamed resident remarked. "The submerged rocks make it nearly impossible to climb back up."

Santiago Del Teide mayor Emilio Navarro expressed sympathies to the victims’ families and confirmed search efforts for the missing swimmer continued Monday. He stressed officials work to alert visitors to risks and discourage pool use during rough seas. "We urge everyone to heed safety signage," Navarro stated. "This is for everyone’s protection."