Extra lifeguards on duty to protect beachgoers in Lorca this summer

The municipality now has 15 lifeguards as well as new beach services and facilities for people with limited mobility

The coastline of Lorca, which stretches for 10 kilometres from La Galería in Mazarrón to Águilas, now has a reinforced lifeguard and emergency service for the summer, the beaches are being regularly cleaned and infrastructure.

The start of the emergency team has been brought forward this year to June 19, because of the high temperatures and the fact that a lot of beachgoers were expected.

“We know that when the heat arrives, our coast becomes a preferred destination,” explained city mayor Fulgenico Gil Jódar. “Security is an absolute priority and we want those who visit us to feel calm and protected at all times.”

The Murcia regional government’s beach vigilance and rescue plan, the Plan Copla, will be operational until September 1, from 11.30am to 7pm, every day of the week.

It includes personnel from the municipal emergencies service with a beach rescue coordinator and 15 lifeguards, one more than last year.

There are three lifeguards stationed at Cala de Calnegre and Puntas de Calnegre, and two at Palazuelas, all of which have first aid, vigilance and rescue points.

There is also an additional lifeguard on land and another at sea, who will focus on areas such as Playa del Siscar and Baño de las Mujeres.

The rescue fleet includes a boat, a jet-ski, a quad, a basic life support (SVB) ambulance from the regional health service and two goods vehicles, along with a 4x4 with equipment for making rescues and fighting forest fires.

There are also two amphibious chairs so that people with limited mobility can bathe in the sea, and all the lifeguard points have semi-automatic defibrillators and personnel trained to use them.

The mayor reminded beachgoers of how important it is to follow the lifeguards’ instructions, the signposts and the local bylaw on proper use of the beaches and coast.

He noted that swimming when there is a red flag is considered a serious violation and can be fined with between €751 and €1,500.

At the same time, the local police services have been reinforced to ensure that municipal bylaws are observed and the coast is guarded more closely all summer.

In parallel, Lorca council set up a comprehensive cleaning and preparation operation, which included a thorough initial clean-up, followed by additional daily maintenance in July and August, cleaning of the sand, controlled removal of seaweed, and extra street cleaning in Ramonete town centre.

New infrastructure for the beaches this year includes disabled toilets and shaded areas for people with limited mobility.

The council has also put out rubbish bins, boardwalks, foot taps and lifeguard towers at Puntas de Calnegre, Cala de Calnegre and Palazuelos, as well as chemical footbaths on several beaches.

The swimming and sailing areas at Puntas de Calnegre and Cala de Calnegre have been marked out with buoys and channels to protect bathers.

And finally, the council has applied for the required permission to fly drones in certain areas, which will be indicated with signposts, in order to increase vigilance and control overcrowding on beaches, without compromising the natural values of Cabo Cope and Puntas de Calnegre Regional Park.

For more local news, events and visitor information, you can go to the home page of Lorca Today

Image: Ayuntamiento de Lorca