Scots pensioner drowns while on holiday in Canaries

A SCOTTISH pensioner has drowned while on holiday in the Canary Islands, authorities in Spain confirmed today.

The incident occurred on Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands.

The man, named locally as Derek Michael, was dragged from the sea by other swimmers in Fuerteventura at the weekend. Although a doctor and ambulance crew attended the scene, he was later pronounced dead.

The 79-year-old, understood to be from the Whitecraigs area of East Renfrewshire, south of Glasgow, was on holiday in the resort of Pajara, a resort town to the southwest of the island.

It is believed the incident happened shortly after 2.30pm on Saturday, just off the Jandia peninsula, a popular destination with sunbathers and swimmers.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “We are aware of the death of a British national on 15 November at Fuerteventura, Canary Islands. We are providing consular assistance to the family at this difficult time.”

It was the second tragedy to hit the Pajara area of Fuerteventura in the space of three days. On Thursday, a 65-year-old German tourist drowned while in the sea at Costa Calma.

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