Lifeguard federation urges beach coverage from sunrise to sunset
Cyprus Lifeguard Federation president Polys Pallikaros called for longer summer beach coverage following a drowning incident in the Larnaca area.
Larnaca, Cyprus. Closing lifeguard towers at 6pm during the summer months is “criminal”, Cyprus Lifeguard Federation president Polys Pallikaros said on Monday following a drowning incident in the area.
He said beaches should have lifeguard coverage from sunrise to sunset throughout July, August and September, adding that human life should not be weighed against cost.
Recent rescues
Speaking to CyBC, Pallikaros cited several recent rescues to underline the importance of lifeguards.
He referred to the rescue of a mother and her child in the Paphos area at around 12.30pm on Sunday, saying they were saved from certain drowning.
He also cited a separate incident in which an off-duty lifeguard was alerted at around 7.30am and travelled to Coral Bay, where he rescued a swimmer in difficulty.
Recruitment concerns
Pallikaros said the continuing difficulty in recruiting lifeguards was largely linked to the short-term nature of the jobs on offer.
He said positions were typically available for only three or four months, making it difficult for people to leave other employment for such limited work.
Lifeguard positions should instead provide at least eight months of employment, he said.
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