 During a surveillance operation in the GC38-18 patrol boat, the officers received an alert about a woman who had been swept away by the rip current, when she was on the Flamingo Beach shore. - Ministry of Security photo -  |
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Published
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff During a routine patrol, officers from the National Coast Guard rescued a woman, a United States tourist surnamed Kingery, 53, who suffered a water accident. According to the police report, during a surveillance operation in the GC38-18 patrol boat, the officers received an alert about a woman who had been swept away by the rip current, when she was on the Flamingo Beach shore, in Guanacaste Province. "The officers who were carrying out a surveillance patrol for the safety of the tourist, saw a group of people claiming for help," the police said. However, the conditions of the tide limited the boat from approaching the beach. So, they coordinated with the beach guards who were patrolling near the coast to go to aid the people.  It is presumed that the woman was swept away by the rip current and then she was hit by a big wave that threw her back onto the beach. The blow the woman suffered caused severe back and neck pain, police said. Upon the arrival of the coast guard, first aid was given to the tourist until she was stabilized. Later, she was treated by the rescue staff from the hotel where she was staying, added the police. The accident happened on Saturday, however, the officers reported the case to the press until Tuesday. Reports of water accident emergencies of tourists continue due to the increase in visitors at the beaches.  Recently, the Coast Guard reported the rescue of an Austrian tourist in Salinas Bay. On April 27, the Coast Guard officers from the Salinas Bay station, in Guanacaste Province, rescued the tourist who had a sailing accident. According to the police report, during a routine patrol carried out by the Coast Guard near Bolaños Island, they saw a woman that had lost control of her kiteboard while sailing through the bay. "Due to the strong winds and the turbulent currents, the young woman lost control of her kiteboard and fell into the water," the Coast Guard said in their report. "The sea currents were dragging the woman towards Nicaragua maritime zone, while she was staying afloat by holding on to her surfboard," they said. The Coast Guard rescued the woman, identified as Tomitsa, 33, and carried her to the coast of Copal Beach. The woman was in good health, so it was not necessary to take her to any clinic. "She was tired from all the time she was fighting against the winds and the waves," they said. Once on shore, the woman was reunited with the group of tourists with whom she was traveling. A short video of the rescue operation was released by officers and can be seen on the A.M. Costa Rica YouTube channel. Since March, specialists have warned about the increase in winds and waves, so tourists can take precautions and avoid water accidents. The so-called Easterlies, which are the permanent east-to-west prevailing winds that flow in the Earth's equatorial region, causing a strong increase in the waves on the country's coasts, in the North Pacific (Guanacaste Province) and Caribbean (Limón Province), warned the specialists of the Oceanographic Information Module of the University of Costa Rica. People can reach the tides and winds updated information on the organization's web page. -------------------------- What have you heard of expats having water accidents while vacationing in Costa Rica? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com  |
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