The name of a 15-year-old German girl who was saved from drowning at an Alentejo beach has been given to a new drowning prevention initiative in the area.
The Association of Lifeguards of the Alentejo Coastline (Resgate) decided to name a project to raise awareness about the dangers of the sea ‘Zora Lutz’, after a German girl who was swept away by a strong sea current, while swimming in Zambujeira do Mar with her 12-year-old brother on October 3, survived thanks to the prompt intervention of two volunteer lifeguards who performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at the site.
The brother did not require hospital treatment but Zora had to be transported to Lisbon’s Santa Maria Hospital where she remained in a coma for 12 days.
The president of Resgate, António Mestre, said the life-saving techniques performed by the volunteer lifeguards “made all the difference between Zora living and dying”.
“I always believed Zora would survive her ordeal and, if she did, I wanted her name to be associated to something good,” he said.
Zora recovered and the family were able to return to Germany on October 17. Zora’s mother authorised the use of her daughter’s name in the project.
About the Zora Lutz project
Originally called Resgate, the drowning prevention project was created by an association of volunteer lifeguards in the Alentejo coast after the bathing season ended (September 15).
Aware of the dangers of the sea, particularly in an area known for its strong waves and very popular with surfers in the winter months, the association recruited six volunteer lifeguards to be on alert 24 hours a day and cover the areas of Santiago do Cacém, Sines and Odemira.
Part of its work is to raise awareness among the population, particularly schoolchildren, about the dangers of the sea and ways to ensure safe swimming practices.
Association president António Mestre explained: “Our volunteers are not paid for being on call 24 hours a day. As they have their own day jobs to earn a living, when they are called-out to help in rescue operations, a justification document will be provided to take to their employers.”
Mestre went on: “Educating the population about ways to keep safe when going to the beach is something the State should be doing. However no funds are provided for projects such as ours.”
Mestre estimates the government had to pay around €100,000 for Zora’s rescue operation, including sending a helicopter out, ambulances, emergency teams and hospital treatment.
“We would require a lot less than €100,000 to have a year round team of four people on alert and carrying out drowning prevention campaigns in the area,” he concluded, adding that our country is notorious for being reactive not proactive.
