First jet ski fatality of 2026 season - Fuengirola

The first jet ski fatality of the 2026 season occurred in Fuengirola when a 30-year-old man died after a collision with a boat near the harbor on June 18 around 5:50 pm. Emergency teams from Guardia Civil, local police, the Red Cross, lifeguards, and health services arrived quickly but could not revive him. This marks the season’s first fatal jet ski incident in the area and brings the nationwide tally to four deaths since early 2024. A national safety campaign, launched two weeks ago by Spain’s Ministry of Transport through the Directorate General of the Merchant Navy and Maritime Rescue, urges greater caution. In 2025, nearly 2,000 jet skis were inspected with about 700 fines proposed; in Málaga province there were 18 serious sanction files, comprising about 48.6% of Andalucia’s total. Coastal authorities report a rising trend in serious jet-ski breaches over the past five years.

The incident underscores ongoing safety challenges for recreational watercraft, prompting authorities to intensify checks and enforcement to curb dangerous behavior on Spain’s coast.