More than 70 per cent of the victims who drowned at sea in the past 10 years were foreigners, and the majority have been men.

The Sunday Times of Malta obtained the police incident reporting figures following two separate drowning tragedies in Gozo this summer which claimed the lives of seven tourists.

Over the past decade, 57 people fell victim to sea accidents – either while swimming or diving. Forty-two were foreigners – 29 men and 13 women. Out of the 15 Maltese drownings, 10 were male and five were female.


57

the number of people who died at sea in the past 10 years


Since 2003, the most perilous months for drowning tragedies have been May, August and September. The months are well known for sudden north westerly weather conditions which result in rough sea conditions.

Unseasonable rough seas often take many foreign swimmers by surprise and at times assistance from land is next to impossible because the winds and waves are dangerously strong.

Last year was the worst for sea tragedies, with a total of 11 drownings, registering nearly two deaths every month starting from April to October.

Last May, five French tourists drowned after the small boat they were on was battered by rough seas while they were returning to their yacht anchored at Dwejra after having dinner in Xlendi.

In August, two other French tourists, one of them a 17-year-old girl, drowned in Xwejni Bay while swimming in what eyewitnesses described as waves reaching a storey high.

This latest spate of drownings spurred the Government to launch an information campaign targeted at foreigners, with the aim of preventing similar tragedies.

Together with the Malta Tourism Authority, the Home Affairs Ministry last month said it would run a campaign targeted at foreigners visiting the island to steer away from swimming when the sea is very rough.

A spokesman for the Home Affairs Ministry said: “Maltese people know that in rough weather conditions certain beaches should be avoided but foreigners, possibly due to lack of sea experience, are less cautious.”

“What we can do is promote an ‘Ask a Local’ campaign. When the weather conditions are rough, and visitors are in doubt, they can turn to a Maltese person for advice,” he said.

The campaign, yet to been launched, is set to include leaflets distributed at the Malta International Airport with information on the beaches and swimming.

Swimming SOS

• If you see anyone in difficulty, call 112 in emergencies rather than contacting a police station.

• Go to beaches which are manned by lifeguards.

• Heed the coloured beach flags indicating the sea conditions and do not swim when there are double red flags up on the mast.

• If you find yourself caught in a strong current, do not try to swim to shore, but swim sideways, parallel to the beach, so as to get out of the pull of the narrow outward current.

• Take swimming lessons before venturing in the sea. Bear in mind that unlike in a pool, the sea can have undertows and strong currents.

• Never dive without a buddy.

• Ask a local for advice.

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