Editor

As a lifeguard I would like to give my view on the incidents with swimmers on beaches.

First of all, can I say that I feel very sorry for the people that have been involved in these tragic accidents but I cannot comment on what happened in their individual cases. But the blame can’t always be laid at the feet of the council. I feel swimmers/bathers must take some responsibility, they have put themselves in that position. The water can be a very dangerous place, be it in the swimming pool or the sea, so a swimmer must be aware of what they are getting into. I have sat in the chair at Harlech & Ardudwy Leisure swimming pool and seen people dive into the shallow end, do back flips and put themselves and their children in danger.

When I observe a swimmer get into trouble the first thing they do is panic, whatever the depth of water they are in. The bather will grab onto anything, even a lifeguard. In the swimming pool a lifeguard will throw the bather a lifebuoy to stay afloat.

In the sea there is nothing to hang onto, so that would be my idea, a fence post pushed into the sand with a lifebuoy hooked on to it placed at danger points and certain distances apart, that means that anyone that sees a bather in trouble could throw a lifebuoy.

It is my view that the RNLI and the wardens are doing a very good job. I do realise that there could be underwater currents. But if you enter the water you should be able to swim.

George Handley Talybont

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