Monday, 22nd June 2009 - 17:27CET

Lifeguards rescue two girls

Lifeguards this afternoon rescued two young tourists who found themselves in difficulty while swimming at Golden Bay, the Malta Tourism Authority said.

The rescue involved two teenage girls, thought to be French and Turkish. They appeared to be shocked but did not need medical treatment.

The Lifeguard Service was introduced by the MTA just a week ago.

The MTA said the service will be maintained until the end of the summer. Lifeguards are on duty seven days a week from 10am - 6pm.

The lifeguards service is a pilot project for the bay's beach management. The MTA had already introduced lifeguard services at St. George's bay, St. Julians, the perched beach at Bugibba as well as at Ghadira bay, Mellieha. Two lifeguards are on duty seven days a week at each of the sites.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Sunday, November 22, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

F Vella (on 26/6/09)

@ Margaret Richards

firstly allow me to comend all life guards world wide on the sterling job they do.
secondly, you mention that we Gozitians should go over to Malta and join your Association to become life guards and then come back to Gozo and operate. You seem to be missing the picture. Life Guards according to the MTA are not needed here as is proven by the fact that your Association was awarded the tender for Malta, there was no mention of Gozo in that tender. Yes I have done my research and yes Gozo has a team of Life Guards waiting for the go ahead from MTA, Ministry of Gozo to start.

MARGARET RICHARDS (on 23/6/09)

My god you gozitans really know how to victimize yourself. If you want life guard service in Gozo, then come to Malta, join the Socjeta' Nazzjonali tas-Salvatagg, take the necessary training which will qualify you as a life-guard and you can easily have you life-guard troop in Gozo as well. The Socjeta' Nazzjonali tas-Salvatagg is found in Cresta Quay St. Julians. Why don't you organize a group and come to Malta for training???

Joseph E Briffa (on 23/6/09)

@Mario Galea...how come you conclude that Gozitans are being treated as second class citizens? As far as I know, both parties bend over backwards to accomodate the Gozitans and they treat them with kid-gloves but very few Gozitans are grateful, just look at the way they vote and the taxes they pay or rather they fail to pay . Gozo has better roads than Maltta.. Unfortunately the Gozitans are lousy drivers - they keep to the middle of the road. Gozitans are even worse moaners than the Maltese, which is saying somethiong.

A Saliba (on 22/6/09)

Maybe the introduction of life guards in Gozo will take place in 10 years time (or never).

It is not just gozitans are threated as second class citizens but also tourists who visit the island of Gozo. At the beaches they are not having the services of a lifeguard as in Malta. So when they go back to their country they will also talk about the difference in water safety standards between Malta and Gozo.

Gozo is already suffering from double insularity and the government, must find and IMPLEMENT means and ways to publicize Gozo seriously. By publisize means also by offering quality standard service to tourists.

And what if this accident happened in marsalforn, ramla, hondoq, dwejra or xlendi? Could they have survived? If not we will surely will surely have a bad name on their local press and on YouTube!!

Margaret Richards (on 22/6/09)

Instead of grumbling and moaning of being quote - "second class citizens and we are not as important as Malta' why don't you just thank God that there is life guard service as good as this??? If you are really interested why don't you do your homework by checking who is carrying out life-guard services in the various Maltese Beaches??? I can ease your work - the society is 'SOCJETA' NAZZJONALI TAS-SALVATAGG - MALTA'. WELL DONE TO ALL THE LIFE GUARDS OF THIS SOCIETY AND TO THE DIRECTOR, SECRETARY, TREASURER AND ALL THE PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN CARRYING OUT THIS STERLING WORK DAY IN DAY OUT. WELL DONE SOCJETA' NAZZJONALI TAS-SALVATAGG-MALTA!!!

Mario Galea (on 22/6/09)

Yes C.Micallef didn't you know comparing with the main island we are a second class citizens and we are not as important as Malta, you should know that by now be it lifeguards>Roads>tourisits.to name but a few. Mario Galea

Adrian Wirth (on 22/6/09)

It is my understanding that at least in the UK, a E.U. 'Blue Flag Beach' classification cannot be awarded unless a fully qualified Certified 'Life Guard' is on duty during day light hours. Does this same standard and 'duty of care' obligation apply in here? If so then any 'Blue Flag Beach' in Gozo, let alone all those in Malta that were recently classified 'Blue Flag', ought to be staffed accordingly and if not then what actually is the Malta 'Blue Flag' standard ? Irrespective of the above and obviously, congratulations for a job well done to the persons involved in the Golden Bay incident are due.

C Micallef (on 22/6/09)

Well done. Question why are not lifeguards done at all in GOZO? Are Gozitians second class citizens? From well informed sources the Red Cross wanted to do this service.

Mario Cucciardi (on 22/6/09)

Well done guys! Keep up the good work!

Lifeguards rescue two girls

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