"Swimming Prohibited" Without Even Lifeguards... Casualties Mount

[Anchor]

Amid the peak summer vacation season, water-related accidents are continuing at unauthorized beaches rather than officially opened swimming beaches. Because there are no lifeguards on duty, these incidents can easily lead to fatal casualties, requiring special caution.

Reporter Jo Jaegeun has the details.

[Reporter]

A beach in Gangneung.

On the 2nd, a man in his 60s who came to play in the water with his family fell into distress.

Because it is an unauthorized beach rather than an official swimming beach, there were no lifeguards stationed there. Although a rescue worker rushed over from about 200 meters away, it was already too late.

[Nearby Beach Rescue Worker: He was unconscious, had no breathing, and no pulse, so we were performing CPR. While we were doing that, police and fire officers arrived....]

A vacationer is drifting far out to sea while clinging to an inner tube.

Swept away by a rip current, there was not a single lifeguard on the beach.

Fortunately, the person was safely rescued by the Coast Guard, but it was a hair-raising situation.

The exact same accident was repeated in Goseong on the same day.

Both locations were unauthorized beaches, not official swimming beaches, meaning there were no rescue personnel.

We revisited one of those places.

Banners are posted everywhere stating that swimming is prohibited because it is an unauthorized beach, but vacationers ignore them and enjoy playing in the water.

[Unauthorized Beach Swimmer: (I know it's not an official beach), but I thought that as long as I wear a life jacket and stay out of the deep areas, it would be fine.]

Casualties continue to pile up at unauthorized beaches.

Since last July, 9 people have died while swimming at beaches in Gangwon and Gyeongbuk. Excluding 1 person who suffered from cardiovascular disease, all 8 others died in accidents at unauthorized beaches.

The Coast Guard urged the public to refrain from swimming at beaches without rescue personnel and to avoid entering the beach when weather conditions deteriorate, such as during swells or high-wind advisories.

(Video reporting: Kim Dae-chul, Design: Kang Yun-jung, Footage provided by: Donghae Regional Coast Guard)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.