The Algarve Report Wednesday 16 August 2023
by Mike Evans
A very good day to you all and with the region being awash with tourists from across Europe and beyond it is right that we start this report with the news that in the first 6 months of the year 60 people have died as a result of drowning, across the whole country, according to the Portuguese Federation of Lifeguards ( FEPONS ), noting that, despite the decrease in cases compared to the same period last year, the figures are still high.
In a statement, FEPONS cites figures from the Drowning Observatory to indicate that, despite a reduction compared to the same period last year (68 deaths), it was still higher than the average of the last six years (56 deaths). According to the report by the Drowning Observatory, 51 of the people who drowned in the first six months of the year were men and more than half (57.4%) were over 40 years old.
According to the document, 16 cases occurred in April, 12 in June and 10 in January and only one case occurred in a guarded area. FEPONS also points out that 36 (60.7%) drownings occurred in the afternoon, 25 at sea, 21 in the river, four in domestic swimming pools, three in dams, another three in harbours/marinas and two in wells.
It adds that 11 cases occurred during leisurely bathing, four due to falling vehicles into the water, two during recreational fishing with a rod, two during recreational fishing with nets and others in cleaning tasks at the site. As for geographical distribution, 10 cases (16.4%) occurred in the district of Faro , eight (13.1%) in Lisbon, eight (13.1%) in Leiria, seven (11.5%) in Setúbal and six (9.8%) in Porto.
Many tourists who come to the Algarve do not expect the water to be as cold as it is and this is in part one of the reasons why there are these such incidents. With a number of beaches having no Lifeguards present this is shown to be another factor. We can all help by keeping an eye out when on the beach for anyone who may be in difficulty especially if bathing on an unattended Lifeguard beach.
Now let’s take a look at what else has been happening around the Algarve region in the past week.
Man dies after falling ill in water on unguarded beach
A 49-year-old man, of French nationality, died in the late afternoon of Sunday, August 13, after allegedly having suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest while bathing in an unsupervised area between Vale do Lobo beach and Praia de Loulé Velho, indicated AMN.
Following an alert received at 6:45 pm, via the Lisbon Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC Lisbon), informing that a person had gotten into difficulty in the water on an unsupervised beach, “they immediately went to the local elements of the Local Command of the Maritime Police of Faro, INEM, lifeguards from the assistance device for bathers of the Municipality of Loulé and the Red Cross of Faro”, says the National Maritime Authority (AMN) in a statement.
The man was removed from the water “by bathers” who were at the scene, after allegedly feeling bad while bathing, having suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest. The man was assisted at the scene by lifeguards until the arrival of INEM, who continued the resuscitation manoeuvres, “it was not possible to reverse the situation”, said the report. The death was declared “on the spot by the INEM doctor, and the victim was later transported to the Instituto de Medicina Legal de Faro by the Cruz Vermelha de Faro”, he details.
The Maritime Police Psychology Office has been activated and is providing “support to the victim’s relatives”. The Faro Maritime Police Local Command took care of the occurrence.
Lifeguard station rescues missing man in Olhão
The crew of the Lifeguard Station in Olhão rescued a 73-year-old man of French nationality on the afternoon of this Monday, the 14th, who had disappeared after leaving the Cavacos beach in Olhão by kayak.
Following an alert received at 4:00 p.m. by the victim’s wife, informing her that her husband had left Cavacos beach in a kayak at 2:15 p.m. and had still not returned, “the crew of the Olhão Lifeguard Station were immediately activated. to carry out searches between Armona and Fuseta”, says AMN in a statement.
‘SeaWatch’ elements have been enabled to perform land searches. The crew of the Salva-vidas Station detected the man at 4:25 pm between Cavacos beach and Fuseta, having found that he was “tired and having difficulty returning to land due to the strong wind, with no need for medical assistance”, details the note. . The man was later rescued to the Lifeguard Station in Olhão, where he arrived safely.
Cyclist dies in an accident in Alcoutim
Cyclist José Ricardo Viegas, aged 40, died on Saturday, August 12, in Alcoutim , in an accident involving a truck, according to the Jopelor Cycling Academy, where he was an athlete.
Born in Santa Catarina da Fonte do Bispo , in the municipality of Tavira, Zé Ricardo, as he was known, lost his life at the scene of the accident while riding his bicycle, which was his passion.
11 people arrested during inspection in the municipality
Eleven people aged between 19 and 65 were arrested on Friday, August 11, during an operation to combat crime in the municipality of Albufeira , announced the National Republican Guard (GNR).
The arrests were made by the Territorial Command of Faro, through the Territorial Sub-detachment of Albufeira, in various places in the municipality, for the crimes of drug trafficking (seven), driving under the influence of alcohol (two), possession of a prohibited weapon (one) and aggravated threat (one).
During the police investigations, two razors were seized, an alarm gun, 40 rounds of ammunition, a defence aerosol, an electric gun, 65 doses of hashish, 59 doses of MDMA, 24 doses of cocaine, a knife with traces of hashish and 20 euros in cash. Four nightlife establishments were also inspected, which resulted in the drawing up of nine administrative offence notices, while in the road area, 12 were drawn up. The facts were sent to the Judicial Court of Albufeira.
Man Arrested for stealing a car from the Câmara de Albufeira
A 21-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday, August 9, after having stolen an Albufeira City Council car that he was driving in Olhão , announced the Public Security Police (PSP).
The arrest was made by the Faro District Command of the PSP, through the Olhão Police Station, in collaboration with the National Republican Guard, after the goods vehicle was circulating in the city of Olhão.
A police device was set up to intercept the vehicle and the suspect, using the GPS tracking system of the stolen car, and the person responsible was arrested. The stolen vehicle had several tools and machinery worth approximately 11 thousand euros, which were also recovered.
The detainee was notified to appear before the Public Ministry this Thursday, August 10th.
Video surveillance in Olhão and Portimão to be reinforced
The Ministry of Internal Affairs authorised the reinforcement of video surveillance systems in Olhão and Portimão, it was announced today.
By order of the Secretary of State for Home Affairs, published today, 11th August in Diário da República , it can be read that “the video surveillance system in the municipality of Olhão, which had 26 cameras, is renewed for three years, and the installation of another 41 is authorised , in a total of 67 chambers”.
In the case of Portimão, the renewal is for the same period, “a total of 42 video surveillance cameras (there were 26 before) in 29 locations in the municipality”, says the note.
Finally as we are in the Fire Season, please follow our Facebook page for any information regarding fires and preventative measures we should all be aware of at this time of year.
Have a good and peaceful week.