A Belgian woman was taken to hospital with suspected spinal injuries after jumping off a cliff in Cominotto on Wednesday, when lifeguards there also had to assist about 80 exhausted swimmers.

This is the busiest time of the year for the Emergency Response and Rescue Corps which deploys lifeguards at the popular Blue Lagoon in Comino.

Cases of swimmers hurt in cliff-jumping in Cominotto have dropped in number since signs warning of serious injury were put up but lifeguards still have their hands full with exhausted swimmers.

Cominotto was cordoned off to stop boats from anchoring there but many visitors put their bags on their head and swim there from Comino, a distance of about 100 metres. Some of them, particularly those carrying big loads, end up being carried away by undercurrents and that is when the rescuers spring into action. One day in June, 11 people required assistance in just an hour.

None of the 80 tired swimmers helped by lifeguards on Wednesday required medical attention.

The injured Belgian woman, 28, was taken to Mġarr harbour by a water ambulance and then transported to Gozo General Hospital.

At the end of last month, three daredevils sustained spinal injuries after jumping off rocks in Comino and Cominotto. One was hurt when she jumped off a rocky outcrop between the two islands and a man was injured when he plunged from the rocks on the left side of Blue Lagoon.

The lifeguard service at the Blue Lagoon is financially supported by the Malta Tourist Authority.