Safety · Funchal and Câmara de Lobos

Search for missing 37-year-old lifeguard resumes off Madeira after depression Bruna

Rescuers resumed the search at 07:32 on Monday, 9 November, for a 37-year-old lifeguard missing since Sunday afternoon. Depression Bruna has also caused 210 incidents across the island.

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In brief

Funchal, Câmara de Lobos · Portugal

How it came to this

8 NovAlert reaches Maritime Police about a lifeguard dragged by a wave
8 NovSearch begins with a lifeguard boat, rescue jet ski and helicopter
8 NovSearch suspended at sunset
9 NovSearch resumes

Alert and first search

A 37-year-old man who worked as a lifeguard at a hotel in the Lido area of Funchal went missing on Sunday, 8 November, after, reportedly, being caught and dragged away by a wave. The alert reached the Maritime Police at 14:18, and the search began at 14:20 with a lifeguard boat from the Funchal rescue station, a rescue jet ski and a helicopter from the Portuguese Air Force. Maritime Police officers searched the shore on foot. A passer-by saw him being dragged away, regional media reported. The search was suspended at 18:11, after sunset, and was due to resume at dawn once conditions allowed.

Search resumes on Monday

The search restarted at 07:32 on Monday, 9 November, with a lifeguard boat carrying two crew members at sea and Maritime Police and harbour personnel on land. The Merlin EH-101 helicopter of the Portuguese Air Force also took part. Bruno Teles, captain of the port of Funchal, said the man had possibly been dragged out to sea. Speaking to Lusa, Teles said the operation would carry on for the day.

“The searches will continue through the day or until he is found.”

Bruno Teles, captain of the port of Funchal and local commander of the Maritime Police

The national maritime authority also issued a statement on support for the family:

“The Maritime Police psychology office has been activated and is providing support to the victim's family.”

Autoridade Marítima Nacional

Storm damage across Madeira

Depression Bruna brought 210 incidents between 08:00 and 21:00 on Sunday, according to the latest balance from the Regional Civil Protection Service, up from 207 in an earlier Sunday evening count. The tally included 70 tree falls, 36 floods and 22 mass movements, along with eight structure collapses and eight other building element falls. Funchal was the most affected municipality with 94 incidents, followed by Santa Cruz with 47 and Câmara de Lobos with 23.

Depression Bruna incidents by municipality, Madeiraoccurrences

Data from the article text

Nine people were rehoused, five in Santo António da Serra in Santa Cruz and four in Funchal. Operations involved 518 personnel and 215 technical resources. Several roads and infrastructure were closed, and access to the sea was banned at several beach zones, including the Lido. The archipelago had been placed under an orange warning.

Depression Bruna incidents by type, Madeiraoccurrences

Data from the article text

Conditions and next steps

Strong swell and strong wind have been hampering the search operations. The search is set to continue through Monday or until the man is found, with the lifeguard station crew on the water and Maritime Police on shore. The maritime warning for the coast of Madeira runs until 06:00 on Tuesday, 10 November, with waves of around 4.5 metres forecast on the south coast. As of the latest reports, no update on the missing man's whereabouts had been published.

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