News: ​Torrevieja introduces pilot scheme to reduce maritime rescue response times

The Torrevieja City Council is launching a new service for beach monitoring called SalvaDRON, with the aim of improving the safety of users of beaches and coastal bathing areas.

This new lifeguard service will use remote controlled aircrafts known as drones. As Javier Manzanares -the Councillor for Beaches, Civil Protection and Innovation, Information Society and New Technologies- explained, "This is a highly innovative system made up of specialized technical services".

The SalvaDRON project will be in place between June and September this year and according to Javier Manzanares "these devices will be handled by the civil protection volunteers after they have completed the relevant training".

The mayor of Torrevieja, José Manuel Dolón, said that the device will include two drones each with six rotors to carry lifesavers to swimmers who are in danger, as well as associated equipment such as remote control devices, communications, image visualisation and, eventually, light signals, megaphones and even boats.

One of the main objectives of this project includes early detection of situations involving a risk to the safety of users of Torrevieja beaches and rapid relief to people in life-threatening situations by launching life-saving devices.