A fatal incident occurred along the north-western Spanish coast on December 18th, 2025, when an 85-year-old German passenger taking part in a cruise ship shore excursion was swept into the sea by powerful waves near Concheira Beach, close to the coastal town of Baiona, not far from Vigo. The cruise vessel AIDAmar had made a scheduled call at Vigo earlier in the day before the group traveled by bus to the shoreline location.
According to local reports, the woman separated briefly from her excursion party of about 50 and moved onto rocks near the surf to take photographs. At approximately 02:30 p.m., a large wave struck her and carried her into the water. A nearby resident observed the event and alerted emergency services immediately.
Maritime Rescue units, the Galician Coast Guard, Civil Guard vessels, local police, underwater search teams and a rescue helicopter were mobilised swiftly in response. Despite the rapid deployment of sea and air assets, the woman’s body was later located on the shoreline nearby; medical teams on scene were unable to resuscitate her.
The rest of the excursion party was reportedly unaware of her disappearance until they had returned to the bus preparing to re-embark on the ship. Emergency responders continued efforts to secure the area and provide support during the search operation.
Spanish meteorological authorities had issued an orange weather warning for the Galician coast on the day of the accident, with strong south-southwest winds reaching 50 to 74 km/h and wave heights reported at 6 to 7 metres in some sectors. Officials assessing the incident have indicated that the hazardous marine conditions may not have been fully appreciated by those ashore, contributing to the severity of the outcome.
The incident highlights the risks associated with rugged coastal environments and heavy surf conditions during shore excursions and serves as a reminder of the importance of situational awareness and adherence to local safety advisories when operating ashore during maritime voyages.