Every year, around 263,000 people worldwide die by drowning, and while we may think that a drowning person thrashes about and waves for help, real-life drownings often happen quickly and silently. Adrián Plazas, a former lifeguard, knows this all too well. Several years ago, he and his business partner, Enrique Fernández, witnessed a woman drowning, and despite acting quickly, they were unable to save her. This experience was life-altering for Plazas. The industrial engineer is now CEO of General Drones, a Spanish company he founded with Fernández, who works in drone manufacturing. The two combined their knowledge to create a search-and-rescue drone that can help prevent drowning. If a lifeguard notices a person in distress in the water, they can notify a drone pilot, who’s also at the beach and can send the drone out directly to the victim. The pilot locates the victim with the help of a camera attached to the drone, which can reach them in just a few seconds. This is important, says Plazas, because the lifeguards have more time to arrive. The drone then drops a life vest — which automatically inflates when it touches the water — to the victim while lifeguards are en route. By hovering above the victim, the drone helps the lifeguard quickly locate the person who is struggling in the water. Though the project started in 2015, Plazas says it took time to get from a prototype to a finished product. To date, their drones have attended more than 60 emergencies, and have been deployed at 22 beaches in Spain. He’s hoping that more investments and attention will help them expand their services to other countries.
