• Costa Calida
• Virtual EWN

By Helena EWN • Published: 18 Jun 2026 • 10:00 • 1 minute read

Emergency services in the Costa Calida town of Mazarron were quick on their feet to help rescue two paddleboarders, as well as their dog, and bring them safely back to shore after they were caught out at sea off the Playa del Mojon. The incident unfolded on Tuesday, June 16.

Two paddlesurfers and their furry friend, trapped at sea

The two paddleboarders, a 23-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman, along with their dog, were enjoying a leisurely afternoon of sport when they suddenly began to struggle to return to land after the sea conditions became difficult. According to 112 emergency services, the Cartagena Maritime Coordination Centre first received the alert at around 6:43pm, before swiftly passing the information to the Emergency Coordination Centre of the Region of Murcia. This centre then activated a Cartagena Civil Protection jet ski, with a skipper and rescuer on board, from the San Gines beach in La Azohia, located in Cartagena, which was the closest beach to the location indicated by those affected.

Once the paddleboarders and their furry friend were located, the team confirmed that none of them required medical assistance before they were safely towed back to Playa del Corral, located in Cartagena.

Paddleboarding: Increasingly popular, but with increasing risks

Paddle surfing is a popular sport in Spain and especially around the Costa Calida, particularly in beaches including Isla Plana, La Azohia, Playa del Mojon and San Pedro del Pinatar. In the warmer months, the calm waters and idyllic coastline can quickly attract newcomers to the sport, resulting in incidents like these where emergency services are called to help trapped paddleboarders.

It can make for a great afternoon of fun, but can also incur risks of incidents like these, when paddleboarders have difficulty getting back to shore due to sudden changes in the sea or weather conditions.

How to avoid problems while enjoying an afternoon of paddleboarding

Local authorities remind beachgoers, including many expatriates who make up a significant portion of the region’s coastal visitors, to carefully check the weather and wind forecasts before heading out, stay close to the shoreline, and avoid going out alone. Carrying a mobile phone in a waterproof pouch and using a leash attached to the board are also simple precautions that can make a major difference when emergency services need to be called.

CaixaBank Volunteering has successfully mobilised some 350 volunteers, and benefited thousands of vulnerable people in the Region of Murcia in a “Social Month” event that broke records. The event, which took place at the end of May and for the beginning of June, saw 75 solidarity activities carried out in the region across 35 local social groups.

Thousands of vulnerable people across Murcia benefit from massive charity effort

To be specific, more than 4,000 vulnerable people in the Region of Murcia benefited from this fourth edition of the social charity event, which saw 7 per cent more volunteers participate than in the previous edition and consolidating CaixaBank Volunteering as one of the largest corporate volunteering programmes on a national scale.

This “Social Month” event also coincided with the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development, promoted by the United Nations, which recognises the contribution of volunteering groups and organisations.

How CaixaBank helped: From rescued animals to those without financial resources to the elderly

Some of the most notable activities included 24 volunteers collaborating with the association Autismo Somos Todos (AMUDEF) on a solidarity walk that brought together 300 beneficiaries in Cartagena; and in Molina de Segura, around twenty volunteers participated in a day with the Centauro Quirón Foundation and collaborated in the daily care of rescued animals. This initiative also included the participation of CaixaBank Group employees and the collaboration of the “La Caixa” Foundation.

The vulnerable people benefiting across the Region of Murcia and beyond from the “Social Month” initiative included elderly people, people with disabilities, those who lacked financial education, those who needed help with digital inclusion, and other, broader areas including environmental protection, culture, social inclusion, and sports.

More than 150,000 people helped in Spain

Across Spain, more than 19,500 volunteers have participated in “Social Month” activities, benefiting more than 155,000 people with low resources or in vulnerable situations.

CaixaBank Volunteering is one of the largest volunteering initiatives in Spain, and it brings solidarity closer to all citizens in the International Year of Volunteering. The association boasts a history of more than 20 years.