The recent spell of good weather across the country, coinciding with the Easter holidays, has led thousands to flock to Portuguese beaches. Unfortunately, most of these beaches currently lack lifeguard services, posing a significant danger, given the turbulent sea conditions,” a federation warns.
The Federação Portuguesa de Nadadores Salvadores (FPNS) notes that in recent days, “dozens of rescues” have been carried out on Portuguese beaches by either bystanders or lifeguards. However, “tragically, one life was lost.”
The federation, through its Drowning Observatory, highlights the high risk of drowning currently observed in Portugal.
Among the contributing factors to this risk, the federation points to the “widespread absence of lifeguards at this time of year,” the rough sea conditions, “with currents and agitation that are not easily visible to the inexperienced,” and a “weak aquatic safety culture among the population,” who neither recognize the dangers nor adopt risk analysis and prevention behaviors.
Data from the Drowning Observatory indicate that April 2024 was “the deadliest on record, with 26 drownings, accounting for 26.8% of all drowning deaths for the year” in Portugal.
“This figure is nearly double that of the same month in 2023 (16 deaths) and significantly higher than the averages of previous years,” the statement adds.
The FPNS also notes an increasing trend in drowning deaths in April and May, with nine drownings recorded in 2024 and six in 2023 during May.
In 2022, there were 28 drownings in these two months (14 in April and 14 in May), seven in 2021 (three and four, respectively), 24 in 2020 (eight and 16), 14 in 2019 (seven and seven), 23 in 2018 (16 and seven), and 17 in 2017 (seven and 10), the federation quantifies.
“It is urgent to raise public awareness of existing risks and expedite beach safety planning,” urges the FPNS, advising beachgoers to avoid unmonitored areas or rough seas and choose locations that are supervised or have easy access to assistance.
On Tuesday, a 16-year-old boy went missing in the late afternoon at Dragão Vermelho beach in Costa da Caparica, Almada, after experiencing difficulties in the water. Search operations are ongoing involving maritime, land, and aerial resources.
The Municipality of Matosinhos has also issued a warning today, disclosing that 18 people have been rescued from the beaches of the municipality over the past two days. It called on beachgoers to exercise heightened caution with the sea, emphasizing that the beaches are not yet under surveillance.
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