Barcelona, Spain – A kitesurfer was safely rescued after drifting at sea for nearly an hour when his sail fell and could not be recovered off Bogatell beach.

The incident occurred about 1.8 kilometers offshore during a maritime patrol in the Mediterranean on April 21, 2026. The man was located at sea while already exhausted but still afloat.

Footage from a patrol boat shows officers leaning over the rail as they approach the kitesurfer, who is wearing a black wetsuit and floating next to tangled equipment and a partially submerged sail.

The man swims toward the vessel and grabs a boarding ladder. Crew members assist him as he is pulled onto the boat, which moves gently over the waves under a sunny sky with light cloud cover.

Officers can be seen coordinating the rescue on deck, ensuring the kitesurfer is brought aboard safely. The man appeared exhausted but was not injured.

The rescue took place during a routine territorial sea patrol when the patrol vessel detected the kitesurfer offshore. He had been in the water for close to one hour after losing control of his sail.

He was brought back to shore after being taken aboard, completing a successful rescue operation in busy coastal waters frequently used for water sports.

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