An unresponsive body is seen bobbing in the waters of Golden Sands Bay. Without a moment’s delay, a Malta Red Cross lifeguard dives into the sea and reaches the seemingly unconscious person following several swift strokes.

Meanwhile, back-up arrives on a jet ski and the ‘victim’ is hauled to the beach... only to be replaced by a dummy upon which cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is performed.

Bathers watched as the Malta Red Cross team yesterday carried out a full simulation exercise to help raise awareness.

The dummy is then hooked to an automated CPR machine, transferred to a stretcher and into a waiting ambulance

“It is vital that bathers observe the rules,” director of operations Robert Brincau stressed.

Green flags mean it is safe to bathe; yellow means low danger, proceed with caution; red indicates high danger; and red-on-red (double red flags) mean it is extremely dangerous and bathers are warned not to enter the water.

Lifeguards are not obliged to assist people who enter the sea when the double red flags are hoisted

Lifeguards are not obliged to assist people who enter the sea when the double red flags are hoisted, as the situation could endanger their lives.

In fact, when the double red flags are flapping, lifeguards swap their red T-shirts with a green one, warning people they are not on duty.

“We urge people to swim within the swimming zones, as the farther they swim out, our visibility decreases.

“Meanwhile, people with canoes, kayaks and windsurfers are to expected keep out of the swimming zones and always wear a lifejacket.”

The Malta Red Cross is contracted by the Malta Tourism Authority to watch over the beaches of Għadira Bay, Golden Bay and Għajn Tuffieħa Bay, the Buġibba perched beach and Qawra beach.

Lifeguards work in pairs, increasing in number depending on the size of the beach.

Incidents attended to by the Malta Red Cross in the summer of 2014