Paphos Life

The lack of an integrated system regulating lifeguards and an apparent lack of funds has left lifeguards frustrated while endangering the lives of locals and tourists.

The recent drowning of an Indian national in the Pervolia area of Larnaca has once again brought the issue into focus with the Cyprus Life Saving Federation’s Polys Pallikaros calling on the state to step up efforts to introduce more lifeguards across the island’s beaches and to increase the hours that lifeguard posts are manned.

“We have 89 lifeguard posts across the entire island’s beaches; in reality, we need posts in at least another 15-20 beaches,” said Pallikaros.

“We cannot expect to have lifeguards on all the beaches, that’s just not possible nor is it realistic,” he added.

The frustration is all the more evident as Pallikaros explains that the remedy lies in legislation but for years now parliament has been dragging its feet on much-needed legislation.

“I have appeared before the House Interior Committee three times over the years to discuss these issues and we still don’t have a solution.”

“Some MPs have finally prepared a proposed bill regarding the matter; however, even if it does get approval, its provisions can only be implemented next year,” said Pallikaros. He believes that the only way to ensure immediate action is through a ministerial decree.

“The only problem with that is that the Interior Minister has to come up with the money to back the decree,” he added.

A lack of funds plays a big role in the allocation of lifeguards to specific beaches, as well as when they are manned.

“Ideally, we want lifeguards on duty from sunrise to sunset,” said Petros Antoniou, probably the one person who can appreciate the problems from both sides of the spectrum.

Being the Limassol District Officer’s official responsible for Limassol’s 60-plus kilometre coastline stretching from Governor’s Beach in the west through to Pissouri in the east, Antoniou is also a lifeguard.

“There are 24 lifeguard posts in the Limassol district manned by 46 lifeguards and the maximum number we expect to be employed at the height of the summer period is 56,” said Antoniou explaining that the beaches along Limassol’s coast were not manned by lifeguards simultaneously.

The relevant municipality or local council decides on the presence of lifeguards and that depends entirely on available funds.

Existing regulations provide for lifeguard expenses to be equally shared between communities and the relevant District Officer and smaller communities, such as those responsible for Lady’s Mile can only afford two months.

Central Limassol’s only beach – Akti Olympion – has five lifeguard posts and, along with Ayios Tychonas (3 posts), are manned from April through to November. Kourion is patrolled from May to November, Pentakomo/Governor’s Beach and Pissouri from June to October, Pareklisia from July through to October, while Lady’s Mile has lifeguards on duty only during July and August.

Lifeguards in Limassol man their posts from 10am-5pm up until June and September-October, 10am-6pm July-August, and 9am-4pm in November.

“The times, however, are not applicable throughout the island, they tend to change from district to district,” said Pallikaros.

An example of this was highlighted by Charalambos Charalambous in charge of the beaches along the 10-kilometre coastline within Paphos’ municipal boundaries.

“We have increased our lifeguards from nine to 11. The two extra lifeguards will be stationed on our busiest beaches at Sodap and the Municipal baths and will be on duty as from 7am-11am and from 6-8pm,” said Charalambous, adding that lifeguards on the other beaches would be on duty from 11am-6pm.

“The beaches are relatively well-manned by lifeguards,” adds Charalambous, “to the left of Paphos harbour (at which swimming is prohibited) there are fully-equipped lifeguard posts every 100 metres or so.”

“We have not had a single drowning when and where lifeguards have been on duty,” said Pallikaros. “It’s unfortunate that the community in charge of the beach where we had the drowning last week was of the opinion that they didn’t need a lifeguard,” he adds.

source:- http://in-cyprus.com/42739-2/

“Ideally, we want lifeguards on duty from sunrise to sunset,” said Petros Antoniou, probably the one person who can appreciate the problems from both sides of the spectrum.

Why is this?

Dominic wrote: ↑Sat Jun 10, 2017 9:31 am

“Ideally, we want lifeguards on duty from sunrise to sunset,” said Petros Antoniou, probably the one person who can appreciate the problems from both sides of the spectrum.

Why is this?

Dominic

See para 11 of Memory Man's post - Petros Antoniou is also a lifeguard in addition to his official position

Rita

But what is his official position? That's the bit that I can't see.

Being the Limassol District Officer’s official responsible for Limassol’s 60-plus kilometre coastline stretching from Governor’s Beach in the west through to Pissouri in the east, Antoniou is also a lifeguard.

Does this mean he works for the council and oversees the lifeguards, as well as being one?

When I read it, I took the phrase I highlighted to mean that he had lost somebody in a drowning accident, hence the reason he could see the issue from both sides.

You can see why I am puzzled, I hope.

Dominic

I see what you mean but I,rightly or wrongly, took that to mean he was the official responsible for the coastline and the lifeguards on behalf of the Council for the area. Afraid we will have to await Memory Man for clarification.

Rita

Yes there needs to be a comprehensive life guard service..but we the public need to take some responsibility for our actions, ive been in a beach side restaurant, where I saw a party of people , eat and drink until it was coming out of their ears,they were all sozzled, then stumble into the sea, for a swim..

Unfortunately, it's the stupid people who put other people's lives at risk who then have to go into the sea to try and save them

Here in UK, it's the RNLI and the Coastguard volunteers who are dragged out at all times of the day - again, mostly by stupid people not giving a thought to the tide which has a tendency to suddenly be lapping at your heels when you're least expecting it!