Thousands flocked to beaches over unusually warm (for April) weekend
One person died, and two are still missing, in incidents in the water during last weekend.
Authorities did their best to warn potential beachgoers and swimmers of the dangers of ‘the winter sea’/ swimming in areas without lifeguards.
The death was of a 40-year-old man, who drowned in Cáster river, near Ovar, very close to an artificial waterfall.
The missing include a young man from Cape Verde, who reportedly fell into the Tejo river near Caís de Sodré. A friend immediately went in after him, and had to be rescued himself, without managing to recover his companion.
Another incident was registered in Praia da Costa Nova, Ílhavo, where a 19-year-old Brazilian went into the water with a younger friend, and quickly got into difficulties. His younger friend managed to return to the shore under his own means – but the 19-year-old has still not been found.
Tragedies like these pepper the ‘hotter than usual’ days pre-official bathing season: appeals for much wider lifeguard cover this far have failed to achieve any concrete results. ND
