A 50-year-old Swiss man died on the afternoon of 8th July 2026 after becoming unwell while snorkeling near Cais do Sardinha, in Ponta de São Lourenço. The National Maritime Authority said an SOS was received at 16:29 through the Regional Civil Protection Service of Madeira. The Local Command of the Maritime Police of Funchal, the Municipal Firefighters of Machico, and the Rapid Intervention Medical Team (EMIR) were then sent to the scene. Rescue teams transported the victim to the Quinta do Lorde Marina, where they found him in cardiorespiratory arrest. Resuscitation manoeuvres were started immediately, but they were not successful. The man was pronounced dead at the site, and the circumstances that led to the incident are still unknown.
