Helicopter Plucks Stranded Sailor From Inaccessible Rocky Coast After Yacht Runs Aground in Canary Islands

A rescue helicopter airlifted the sole crew member of a sailboat that drifted and ran aground on rocks off El Hierro, in Spain’s Canary Islands.

Spain’s maritime rescue service, Salvamento Marítimo, said the boat ended up stranded on the rocks in the Charco Manso area. After the alert, its Tenerife coordination centre sent the Helimer 204 helicopter and the rescue boat Salvamar Diphda.

The sailor had left the boat and was on the coast in an area with no access. The helicopter rescued the sailor, who was in good condition, and flew them to El Hierro airport, the service said.