Two people have drowned on our beaches. I see there are now calls for the lifeguard service, which usually starts in mid-June, to be deployed earlier.

While I feel this would be an improvement, the service is only available on popular beaches until around 6pm and ends as soon as children return to school at the end of September.

Also, where they have flags denoting whether it is safe to swim, to be careful or not to go in, these are also only up when the lifeguards are on duty.

Yet, the sea is still warm for several weeks after this and tourists, who do not know the dangers, like currents, continue to swim.

Many years ago I had written to Times of Malta recalling that, in my youth, on some beaches there used to be a pole on which one found a ‘life saver’ ring with a rope attached to it.

I cannot understand why these were removed without some sort of alternative system being put in place. If it’s thought that these would be stolen, they could be kept at one of the many establishments that litter the more popular beaches.

These rings can at least help keep one afloat until further assistance arrives.

Something needs to be done before we have more tragedies.