Two Germans, 65 and 75-years old were rescued on Saturday afternoon after their inoperable boat was smashed on the rocks at Praia do Alemão between Portimão and Alvor.
The two men had to be evacuated by a rescue team of firefighters from Portimão who has to winch the men to safety up the cliff due to the hazardous sea conditions below.
The men were found on the small beach near the wreckage of their boat but the Ferragudo lifeboat crew decided that it was too dangerous to try for a beach landing.
The alarm was raised by a walker who realised the crew was in trouble and called the Centre for Maritime Operations informing the captain on duty that a vessel was drifting freely and swiftly towards the rocks near Barranco das Canas.
The Port Authority in Portimão was informed and sent the Maritime Police by land and the Ferragudo lifeboat by sea. On reaching the location it was found that the vessel had indeed hit the rocks and was unrecoverable, and that two people were on the beach.
The two Germans eventually were lifted to safety by 19.30 and were taken to Portimão hospital for check-ups.
Barranco das Canas beach is refereed to locally as ‘Praia do Alemão’ or the ‘German’s Beach’ due to the curious seaside behaviour many years ago of a German resident.
