Pioneering beach safety for Torrox

Torrox has kickstarted its cutting edge summer beach surveillance campaign, dubbed “by land, sea, and air,” making it a pioneering initiative in Spain. 

The summer season for beach safety in Torrox was officially launched on Saturday, June 14 and will continue at the same level of heightened security until September 14,, from 11.30am to 8.30pm daily in which the programme deploys over 40 professionals supported by vehicles, boats, and, for the first time ever, drones and specially trained water rescue dogs. The campaign was unveiled by Torrox Mayor Óscar Medina, who called it as a ‘trailblazing effort to ensure safety along the municipality’s beaches.’

According to the council, the primary goal of the surveillance service is to “address any risks that may arise, implementing appropriate preventive and responsive measures to guarantee an effective response to any emergency.” 

There was a sense of pride in that Torrox is the first Spanish municipality to incorporate specialised water rescue dogs into its beach safety operations, a service contracted through Global K9 Instructor, led by trainer Miguel Sánchez-Merenciano. “The town with Europe’s best climate now boasts one of the continent’s top beach surveillance and rescue services,” Mayor Medina declared.

The €502,000 contract for the service was awarded to Provita Sociedad Cooperativa Madrileña, whose administrator, Rosario Vega, detailed the team’s composition. The operation includes a coordinator, 18 certified aquatic lifeguards with qualifications exceeding those required for pool lifeguarding, three additional lifeguards trained as emergency medical technicians, two jet ski operators (a new addition), and five healthcare professionals, including nurses and clinical assistants. During July and August, five beach condition informants will join the team to handle peak season crowds.

In a first for Spain, the campaign introduces two drones on weekends, when beaches see the highest influx of visitors. One drone is equipped with flotation devices for rescue operations, while the other conducts surveillance rounds and broadcasts announcements via a loudspeaker.

As well, Torrox stands out as the only Spanish municipality to include a team of water rescue dogs as part of its official beach safety protocol, a feature highlighted by Vega as a unique component of the service contract.

The plan also improves accessibility for people with disabilities, offering an amphibious chair, two walkers, and two pairs of crutches, with support from Torrox’s Civil Protection team. The material resources include two open-back pickup trucks, a van, two jet skis, and lifeguard towers stationed across eight of Torrox’s beaches. All lifeguards hold additional certifications for operating in natural environments, ensuring comprehensive preparedness.