The lifeguard service overseeing Praia de Faro rescued two bathers in distress in two separate incidents this past Sunday, one of whom had suffered a stroke.
The first incident involved a 72-year-old man swimming about 20 metres from the shore when he felt ill and asked for help. Fellow bathers signalled the lifeguards who swam out and brought him back to shore.
The second incident on Faro Island was in the sea opposite the camping site and involved a 62 year-old Faro resident who fell ill when swimming. The man signalled for help and the lifeguards soon rescued him.
After an evaluation had been made on site which indicated the man had suffered a stroke, the bather was transported to the medical center on Faro Beach where he was looked after by Red Cross and INEM staff. Later he was taken to Faro Hospital.
The National Maritime Authority said that these rescues show the good sense in using authorised swimming beaches with lifeguard cover and always to check the signs and warning flags.
If bathers are unfamiliar with the particular beach they have selected, ask the lifeguards where the safest swimming area is located.
The red flag was raised at the Fishermens’ Beach in Albufeira on Friday July 8th due to sewage overflow being pumped out to sea, but never far enough, by Águas de Algarve which annually blames mechanical overload at its Albufeira waste water treatment plant.
Holidaymakers were appalled at the stench and questioned why the Algarve, a top tourism destination, found it necessary to dump sewage where people are bathing.
One visitor, Simon Williams from Epsom in Surrey, commented “it’s a bit rich that the Albufeira area welcomes visitors and then tries its best to cover them in effluent. We always used to go to Spain but the Med became too polluted. We paid a lot extra to holiday here this year and now can’t use the beach until the red flag has gone. I think it’s disgusting.”
Overall, the standard of the water at the Algarve's beaches is exemplary despite the water company and councils charged with waste water treatment failing to do so at a few well-reported sites.
