Fatal Accidents Continue at Unofficial Beaches Despite Warning Signs

[Anchor]

Fatalities are continuing to occur at unofficial beaches rather than officially opened swimming beaches. Because there are no safety personnel, emergency situations can easily lead to fatal accidents, requiring extreme caution.

This is a report by Reporter Jo Jaegeun.

[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 the water.

Since it is an unofficial beach rather than a swimming beach, there were no safety personnel. Although a rescue worker rushed over from about 200 meters away, it was already too late.

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

A vacationer is being swept away into the open sea while hanging onto an inner tube.

They were caught in a rip current, and there was not a single rescue worker on the beach.

Fortunately, they were safely rescued by the Coast Guard, but it was a harrowing situation.

On the same day, the exact same accident repeated in Goseong.

Both locations were unofficial beaches, not official swimming beaches, and lacked rescue personnel.

We revisited one of those locations.

Banners are posted everywhere stating that water activities are prohibited because it is an unofficial beach, but vacationers pay no attention and enjoy playing in the water.

[Interview | Unofficial Beach Swimmer: I know (it is not a swimming beach). But my thought is that if I wear a life jacket like this and just avoid deep areas, it will be fine.]

Casualties continue to occur at unofficial 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 died in accidents at unofficial beaches.

The Coast Guard urged people not to engage in water activities at beaches without rescue personnel and to refrain from entering beaches during worsening weather conditions such as swell waves or high surf advisories.

(Photo courtesy of Donghae Coast Guard | Video by Kim Daecheol | Design by Kang Yunjung)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.