DUBAI, 11 July 2007 — Dubai authorities are urging swimmers to not to swim at unsupervised beaches especially at night. At least five people have drowned and two others have been injured in swimming accidents during the past five months as a result of not heeding this warning, said Maj. Abdullah Al-Mazyoud.
All of those who drowned were young people who insisted on going to these beaches even though they did not know how to swim, he said, adding that these incidents could have been avoided if the swimmers had used common sense.
“Why would a person who cannot swim properly go to a beach with no lifeguards? They then exacerbate the situation by insisting on swimming even though they know that it is dangerous to do so,” he said.
Citing statistics, Maj. Al-Mazyoud said that 32 swimmers had drowned in Dubai beaches during the past three years. During the same period, 39 people were also injured in such incidents.
He pointed out that these figures are high in comparison to the population of Dubai and such senseless deaths could be avoided if basic precautions were taken. Such high numbers of fatalities and injuries on the beaches point to the fact that people are flaunting rules and regulations especially the red flag.
“The major problem we face is that people do not observe the red flag, thinking that nothing will happen to them. Some people will come to the beaches without first checking if the waters are calm or rough,” he said.
“When they land there and find out that the seas are rough they still insist on swimming because they made the time for it and had prepared for a day out in the sea. That is not a very good idea as they may end up drowning. It is better for them to pack and go back home than to brave a raging sea.”
