Layonel Ramírez Collado was rescued this Wednesday almost 30 kilometers from the southern coast, after spending more than 36 hours at sea.
The Maritime Rescue operation successfully concluded the search for Layonel Ramírez Collado, the young man who had been missing since Monday night in the waters south of Gran Canaria. He was located alive on Wednesday morning 16 nautical miles (about 30 kilometers) southwest of the island, confirming that the currents had dragged him out to sea. After his discovery, he was transferred to the port of Arguineguín aboard the Salvamar Urania vessel for an assessment of his condition.
The family had expressed their displeasure with the handling of the rescue operation, denouncing the lack of nighttime searches and criticizing the search for being focused on areas close to the coast despite the strong winds. Relatives also questioned the number of aircraft deployed, while authorities rejected the participation of private boats volunteered by volunteers for safety reasons.
The incident occurred during a nighttime boat trip with several friends, when the young man's jet ski broke loose from the boat. As he jumped into the sea to retrieve it, he attempted to return to the Castillo del Romeral dock on his own, but the vehicle broke down. Eventually, the sea dragged him out to sea until he was spotted by a Maritime Rescue aircraft, putting an end to a disappearance that had kept southern Gran Canaria on edge.
