Girl remains critical after mother drowns off Pyla beach

Pyla, Cyprus. A 12-year-old girl remains intubated in critical condition at Makarios Hospital, more than a week after her 35-year-old mother from Romania drowned off CTO beach in Pyla on August 15. Her 14-year-old sister has been discharged from hospital.

Rescue operation

The incident occurred shortly after 6pm, while the girls’ father and their brother were on the shore.

The mother and her two daughters had entered the sea to swim when other bathers saw them struggling in the waves. Bathers pulled all three from the water and ambulances were called to the scene.

Despite rescue efforts, the mother could not be revived. The two girls were taken to Makarios Hospital.

Lifeguard coverage concerns

The drowning occurred about 20 minutes after the area’s lifeguard service had ended for the day, prompting criticism and renewed concerns over staffing at lifeguard towers in Larnaca and other areas.

According to police sources cited by philenews, witnesses said the mother and her daughters had been swimming near breakwaters, where the seabed drops sharply.

Previous deaths near breakwaters

On June 18, two 20-year-old women from Somalia died in the sea off Oroklini, near CTO beach. Witness accounts indicated that they drowned among breakwaters in an area where a lifeguard tower was unstaffed this year because there was no interest in the position.

Following those deaths, Larnaca bodies, including the Larnaca Tourism Development Company (ETAP), called for measures to improve beach safety and prevent similar incidents. No measures have yet been decided for areas with breakwaters in Larnaca.