Sixteen people have died on Portuguese coastal beaches between May 1 and August 31, with most fatalities caused by drowning, according to the National Maritime Authority (AMN).
The AMN reported 10 fatal drownings during this year’s bathing season: three at monitored maritime beaches, five in unmonitored areas, and two outside the monitoring period.
Additionally, five people died due to sudden illnesses while at the beach, with only one occurring in an unmonitored area.
A further fatal incident, the cause of which remains unknown, also took place in an unmonitored location.
Half of the recorded fatalities, meaning eight people, occurred in August, with five in July and three in June. No fatalities were reported by the AMN in May on Portuguese beaches.
Over the four months of the bathing season, 1,007 rescues and 3,561 first aid actions were conducted.
In 2024, only four beach deaths were recorded during the bathing season
Compared to last year, the number of beach deaths has risen significantly. In 2024, only four fatalities were recorded by the AMN, none due to drowning.
Most of these deaths resulted from sudden illnesses, with just one having an unknown cause.
Last year, the number of rescues conducted was significantly lower, with 667 recorded (340 fewer than this year) as well as fewer first aid actions, which totaled 3,017 (544 fewer than in 2025).
17-year-old drowned at Carcavelos
One of this year’s victims was a 17-year-old who drowned at Carcavelos beach in July, having been swept away by currents along with three others.
At the scene, it was confirmed that “three of the victims had been promptly rescued by lifeguards” and were “physically well, not requiring medical assistance,” according to an AMN statement.
“The three swimmers reported a fourth person had been swept away. Lifeguards located the victim, a 17-year-old, and brought him to the beach where resuscitation efforts were initiated until emergency services arrived to continue,” the statement added.
The young man was “transported in critical condition to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.”
The teenager was Jorge Saraiva, a football player.
The 17-year-old who drowned at Carcavelos beach played for two football clubs in the Sintra district, previously at CD Agualva and, more recently, representing FC O Despertar.
