Update: A man of 29 year old, of Guinean nationality, was found lifeless in the waters of the Guadiana River, in the Azenhas area, located north of Mértola, recreation area for residents and visitors.
The body was found at about 17,30 hours, having been taken to the Legal Medical Office of Beja where he will be autopsied. Only after being taken out of the water and recognized by friends was its naturalness confirmed..
The first information was that the victim was a nine-year-old child., but the News Lider (LN) came to find out that it was an adult of 29. The man was accompanied by family members in a kayak, when he fell into the river, without anyone being able to help him.
According to found the LN, the alert was given shortly after 13 hours, having the Volunteer Firefighters of Mértola (BVM) displaced, immediately, various means, including a boat and a diving team.
According to the District Command of Relief Operations (CDOS) Beja, the Port Authority of Vila Real de Santo António was also immediately alerted and “is moving to the location various means of search”, as well as a diving team of firefighters from the Serpa corporations, Moura and Aljustrel, and a team of psychologists from INEM to provide support to the family.
The same source added that, Until now, there was no request for the deployment of an Air Force helicopter to assist in search operations. “The tide is rising and we have a more favorable search window of about an hour”, indicated.
In addition to the Volunteer Firefighters of Mértola, the immediate rescue vehicle of life is already in place (SIV) de Castro Verde e a GNR.
Azenhas is a river beach with a leisure area, constituted by two watermills of three old rock mills, located about five minutes from the village of Mértola.
Last drownings in Mértola
The last tragedy in memory, took place at the end of August 2007, when António José Nogueira and Bruno, the son of 9 year old, residents of Fernão Ferro (Seixal), drowned in the waters of the Guadiana River.
Antonio Nogueira, who was a native of Amieira, county Portel, and the son, drowned near the watermills, when father tried to save the child in an area where the current proved to be treacherous.
The adult was only found in the late afternoon of 2 of September and little Bruno, 15 hours, a 200 meters south of the drowning zone. The search took almost 80 hours and involved approx. 70 operational.
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
