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Nearly 30 lifeguard towers across the free areas of Cyprus remain unmanned at the height of the summer season, raising serious safety concerns after three people were nearly drowned this week in Protaras.
The Ministry of the Interior and District Administrations have been unable to fill seasonal lifeguard positions, despite ongoing recruitment efforts. According to the Cyprus Lifesaving Federation, the limited duration of contracts, typically three to four months, continues to deter qualified applicants.
Polys Pallikaros, president of the federation, called for an increase in eight-month contracts to attract and retain lifeguards with the skills needed for effective beach supervision.
While lifeguard wages have improved and new towers and equipment have been added, Pallikaros said key shortages remain in both staffing and mechanical resources, particularly jet skis with rear rescue platforms. He also advocated for tower shifts from sunrise to sunset, a system that would require doubling current personnel levels.
Pallikaros issued an urgent appeal for constant parental supervision of toddlers aged 2 to 3, warning that drowning in that age group is often silent. “They won’t scream or thrash,” he said. “Their heads go under, and that’s it. Constant watch is essential.”
Highlighting the risks, he described a recent incident in Protaras where three swimmers ignored red flags and verbal warnings from lifeguards during hazardous northern winds. Their rescue placed not only themselves but also the responding lifeguards in serious danger.
Authorities continue to stress the importance of obeying lifeguard instructions as recruitment challenges persist.
With information from 24news.
