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British postwoman dies in Tenerife after freak wave strikes while swimming
Rose Buck was holidaying in Costa Adeje when an earthquake‑linked wave threw her against rocks, leaving serious injuries that led to her death in hospital
Rose Buck, a 56 year old postal worker from Bradford, has died while on holiday in Tenerife, after a “freak wave” reportedly knocked her onto rocks during a morning swim. The incident happened on Wednesday 25 February in Costa Adeje, at a usually calm seawater area known locally as the ‘blue lagoon.’Mrs Buck, described as a “strong swimmer”, had gone to the blue lagoon after finding her hotel pool closed and was swimming around the protected edge of the cove when the wave hit. Her daughter, Chantelle Buck‑Forrest, said an unexpected surge “flung mum against the rocks”, leaving her unconscious and fracturing her C2 vertebra in the neck.
A member of the public who saw the incident raised the alarm and alerted lifeguards, who were able to get her out of the water. Mrs Buck was underwater for about five minutes and then took around 13 minutes to be resuscitated before being rushed to hospital in the north of the island.
Chantelle explained that her mother is believed to have suffered a serious head injury and a lack of oxygen to the brain, which doctors later judged made recovery impossible. Mrs Buck was kept on a ventilator while medical staff stabilised her organs and assessed the extent of the damage, including a bleed on her brain stem. On March 6, clinicians made the decision to withdraw life support. She died in hospital on March 8.
The Tenerife area was hit by a 4.1 magnitude earthquake on the same day as the incident. Chantelle believes that this small earthquake likely triggered the unusual wave at the blue lagoon, which is normally sheltered and frequented by swimmers of all ages. “She was swimming the perimeter of the lagoon and it was just one freak wave that’s taken her,” she said.
Rose Buck’s family has been overwhelmed by the number of messages of support from people who knew her. Chantelle, a children’s playcentre director, said many have described her mother as one of the kindest people they have ever met. The family has now set up a fundraising appeal to help cover costs related to her holiday and repatriation.
Image: wikicommons
