Fitness Coach Swept Into Sea While Attempting To Rescue Colleague [Video]

KEY POINTS

The female victim was cliff diving when the dangerous waves swept her away
Initially, the male victim and his wife tried to navigate the woman to safety
The man was able to pull the woman onto a rock, but they both lost their grip

A fitness coach’s attempt to save his colleague who went cliff diving into the rough waters at a Spanish Resort ended with both being swept away by waves.

Russian fitness coach Daniil Gagarin and his wife, Darya, were filming their friend, Emma Mönkkönen, cliff dive into the waves at the La Zorra cove in Torrevieja on Sept. 23 when the incident occurred, the New York Post reported.

Mönkkönen, a 24-year-old fitness expert from Finland, started to struggle while trying to get out of the water and was seen clinging to a rock in an attempt to climb out. However, large waves crashed on her back and swept her into the cove.

In the video, both Gagarin, 30, and his wife could be heard giving Mönkkönen instructions to guide her to safety. But, navigating the rough waters became difficult for the woman, following which Gagarin jumped in to help her. Initially, he was able to pull Mönkkönen onto a rock. But, both Gagarin and Mönkkönen lost their grip and fell into the water. They were swept into the Mediterranean as Darya could be heard crying out helplessly.

Readers may find the footage disturbing.

A search and rescue mission was called after Darya, who is also a fitness instructor, informed emergency services. Mönkkönen’s body was recovered from the sea a couple of miles away from the cove. Gagarin’s body was found the next day, reported news.com.au.

Alyona Maas, a Russian expat in Spain, called the jump "completely reckless."

"I want to say to adrenaline lovers: please find yourself safer activities," he was quoted as saying by the Post.

The victims worked together at a fitness center in the municipality located on Costa Blanca in the province of Alicante.

Earlier this month, a California man who attempted to jump a narrow inlet on the Pacific coast, Devil’s Churn died after being swept away by the dangerous currents. Initially, park goers who witnessed the fall tried to save the man by fashioning a rope out of clothes, belts and dog leash. But, they could not pull the man out of the water. After an intensive search, emergency personnel declared the man dead.