The summer had got off to a bad start with a spike in the number of accidental deaths by drowning relative to previous years, the harbor police reported on Wednesday. The majority of the victims were elderly, followed by small children and spear-gun fishermen, while the record number of deaths in one day was on June 26, with a total of four in various locations around the country. Figures by the harbour police showed that 145 people had died of drowning since the start of 2012, with the number of deaths per year increasingly steadily since 2008. Specificially, deaths in 2008 came to 283, rising to 327 in 2009, 371 in 2010 and again 371 in 2011.
As a result of the economic crisis, several municipalities have failed to hire life guards for public beaches in 2012, increasing the risk of drowning accidents as the tourism season peaks. There were 468 beaches with a life guard in 2011 but only 361 in 2012.
The harbour police advised swimmers to avoid swimming after a heavy meal or in rough seas with strong currents in order to avoid accidents. They also advised the elderly and people with health problems to consult their doctor before they begin swimming in the sea so as to have their medication adjusted and to receive basic advice.
For spear-gun fishing, the head of the harbour police stressed that they must follow certain safety rules, such as always having a buoy to indicate their presence, avoid fishing in areas frequented by ships or harbour entrances and taking care not to overestimate their stamina. He also recommended that those wishing to do underwater fishing also take scuba diving lessons. He also noted that the coast guard will increase patrols along busy beaches during the summer months and offer workshops on swimming safety to children. (AMNA)