German Dies While Surfing at the Algarve - German surfer dies in tragic accident at Algarve's Praia do Canal
A 39-year-old German man has died in a surfing accident at Praia do Canal beach in Aljezur, southwestern Portugal. Emergency teams responded quickly, but resuscitation attempts failed after he was pulled from the water.
The incident took place near the same area where a 20-year-old Romanian tourist went missing on Thursday. Search operations for the missing man are still ongoing as part of routine maritime patrols.
The accident happened when the man, believed to have slipped on rocks while entering the water, got into difficulty. A companion dragged him from the waves within minutes. Despite immediate efforts by INEM paramedics, maritime police, and Aljezur fire brigade volunteers, he could not be revived.
Medical examiners later concluded that drowning and cardiopulmonary arrest were the likely causes of death. An autopsy will confirm the exact circumstances.
This fatality follows a pattern of water-related incidents in the Algarve. Over the past five years, around 25 deaths and 10 disappearances have been recorded in surf and water sports accidents. Most cases involved drownings at beaches like Praia da Rocha and near Lagos. Data from the Portuguese maritime authority (APMV) and lifeguard services show peaks in 2022, with nine deaths, and in 2024, with eight.
The search for the missing Romanian tourist continues alongside daily patrols by the national maritime authority. Local emergency services remain on alert as investigations into the German man's death proceed. The region has seen repeated tragedies in recent years, with water safety remaining a key concern.
