An 84-year-old man from Arrecife tragically passed away on Monday, 15th September, in Mancha Blanca, within the municipality of Tinajo, while taking part in the celebrations for the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, the patroness of Lanzarote.
The incident occurred around 18:40 hours in the beach bar area, where emergency services attempted to assist him but were unable to save his life. According to the Lanzarote Consortium for Security and Emergencies, the most likely cause of death is a heart attack, although this will need to be confirmed by an autopsy.
Following this unfortunate event, the mayor of Tinajo, Jesús Machín, expressed his condolences and confirmed that the patronal events would continue that evening, “with the approval of the family”; however, the organisers of the festivities have officially decided to cancel the fireworks display.
Emergency and security personnel quickly arrived at the scene, attempting to assist the man but without success. The Judicial Police and the duty judge were also present to carry out the necessary procedures after the death was certified.
The presence of various emergency services created a buzz among those enjoying the festive day.
A Day of High Attendance
The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, one of the most popular events on the island’s calendar, attracted thousands of people to the sanctuary of Mancha Blanca on Monday. Religious activities commenced early in the morning, which were complemented by recreational and gastronomic events in the surrounding area.
Throughout the day, the festive atmosphere persisted at the open space, where numerous families and visitors shared the occasion in the traditional beach bars.
The planned programme was set to conclude that evening with a concert by Lanzarote singer Rosana Arbelo, marking the end of the island-wide celebrations. However, as mentioned, there will be no fireworks.
