After a warm spring marked by drowning tragedies at ‘unsupervised beaches’ throughout the country, the borough of Matosinhos is still the only one in Portugal that operates 365-day lifeguarding cover.
There is no five-month bathing season that the rest of the year sees swimmers left to their own devices if they run into trouble.
Says a representative for the council, the ‘savings’ in human terms justify the extra expense.
It is now simply left in the air whether other councils will copy Matosinhos’ example.
RTP reports that the borough’s special lifeguarding system has been in place since 2008, as a result of a partnership between the town council and maritime police.
During that time, Matosinhos’ Baywatch heroes have saved 219 lives at sea, and responded to over 500 beach emergencies.
