Over 1,500 interventions by lifeguards over the summer

The lifeguarding service in the beaches entrusted to the Emergency Response and Rescue Corps stopped at the end of last month. The Emergency Response and Rescue Corps carried out lifeguarding duty at Blue Lagoon in Comino and Ramla Bay and Marsalforn Bay in Gozo.

During the past season lifeguards had a total of 1579 interventions, comprising 1317 interventions at the Blue Lagoon, 208 interventions at Ramla Bay and 54 interventions at Marsalforn Bay. The most common injuries reported were jelly fish stings.

This year, at the Blue Lagoon, there was a decline in spinal injuries due to cliff jumping but there was a sharp increase in panicked and tired swimmers. 

While on duty at the Blue Lagoon, lifeguards assisted in the search for a missing person. In Ramla Bay, a mother and son were saved on the last day of lifeguarding duty, in the last weekend of September.

The lifeguarding service is supported by the Malta Tourism Authority,  the Gaia Foundation, the Ministry for Gozo, the Mgarr Marina, Transport Malta, Armed Forces of Malta, Police and the Civil Protection Department.