A man and a woman were rescued from the sea late on the afternoon of Saturday, June 28, after they encountered difficulties in the water at Praia dos Moinhos, an unmonitored beach in the municipality of Viana do Castelo.
The alert reached rescue services at 6:54 PM through the Lisbon Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC Lisbon), leading to the mobilization of elements from the Viana do Castelo Maritime Police Command, crew members from the Esposende Lifeboat Station, members of the ‘Seawatch’ Project, and lifeguards from the adjacent beach, as well as the Fão Volunteer Firefighters, according to a statement from the National Maritime Authority (AMN) available to Notícias ao Minuto this Sunday.
The victims were pulled from the water and assisted on the sand by ‘Seawatch’ Project members, in collaboration with the lifeguards and crew from the Lifeboat Station, as per the organization’s note.
The man was unconscious, prompting immediate resuscitation efforts by ‘Seawatch’ members until the firefighters arrived to continue them, successfully reversing the situation.
The victim was later transported by Fão Volunteer Firefighters to a hospital.
The Viana do Castelo Maritime Police Command took charge of the incident.
Portuguese beaches will have surveillance outside the bathing season next year to try to prevent drowning deaths, announced the Minister of Environment today in Carcavelos, in the municipality of Cascais.
Lusa | 14:09 – 16/06/2025
The latest AMN report indicated that in the first month since this year’s bathing season began, two people have died on Portuguese beaches. These include two siblings who disappeared on May 25, allegedly while swimming at Pedrógão beach, in the municipality of Leiria, which was not monitored at the time of the incident.
From May 1 to 31, there were 14 rescues and 58 first-aid actions recorded.
The fatalities are the two siblings who disappeared on May 25, allegedly while swimming at Pedrógão beach, in the municipality of Leiria.
Notícias ao Minuto | 15:30 – 03/06/2025
What do the authorities recommend?
In the same statement, the AMN advised beachgoers to “frequent beaches that are permanently monitored” and to “constantly watch children.”
“Respect the flag signals, beach signs, and instructions from lifeguards, authorities, and elements reinforcing beach surveillance,” and “avoid unnecessary exposure to risk,” are other recommendations in the note.
Moreover, authorities emphasized respecting digestion periods and not entering cold water suddenly to avoid abrupt thermal shocks, as well as avoiding the hours of highest sun exposure (11 AM – 5 PM).
In case of emergency, the AMN warned against entering the water and instead advised contacting a lifeguard or calling 112.
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