Half of the deaths have been registered in Tenerife with the remainder being Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and La Palma, with one death each.
The Canary Islands have registered eight depth as in the first two months of this year which is four less than last year, where twelve bathers lost their lives.
The vast majority of these deaths occurred when there had been a red flag present on the beach and the sea conditions were adverse.
Some 37 percent were adults while 25 percent were over 60 years of age. Where beaches continue to see the highest mortality rates with 50 percent of cases followed by Ports and coastal areas of 40 per cent and finally, Piscinas natural being at 10p percent.
Additionally, the afternoon is when most fatalities occur, accounting for 62 percent as opposed to 25 percent in the morning. Bathing is the primary activity with 63 percent and scuba divers representing 12 percent and the remainder being in the other category.
To add to the eight deaths there were also 17 people who were injured ranging from minor to critical injuries, as well as the rescue of seven people in an accident without injury.
Accidents in the water continue to be the leading cause of unintentional deaths in the islands since they outnumbered those registered in road safety. With the main cause in the water being recklessness, by ignoring the red flag on beaches, not surveying the water and also not knowing how to act on a return current.
Therefore it is necessary to always be careful when around the water, check the flag on the beach, check the conditions of the water and assess your own abilities. As my stepfather always said, "it's better to be safe than sorry."