„Why are rules ignored on the Romanian sea coast? Lifeguards explain, while tourists retort: ‘Do you know how much I spent to swim here?’ / ‘Waves can’t take me’ / Six tourists drown in a single day.”

„I am good, I swim well.” „What, are you paying for my vacation?” „I can handle it, leave me be.” These are some of the reactions lifeguards face when, despite the red flags displayed on the beach, tourists continue to venture into the water.

On August 14, six tourists drowned in a single day, and the day culminated with a fight involving lifeguards in Eforie Nord. Gabriel Culea, the coordinator of the lifeguards in Constanța and Mamaia, explains how this situation came to be and generally discusses tourists’ attitudes towards those whose job is to save their lives.

Lifeguards insist that it’s completely wrong for tourists to attempt to save other people in danger of drowning. This is because, without experience and equipment, these individuals also expose themselves to a very high risk of drowning. This is how the three men in Mamaia died; one of them was the father of the teenager whom the men tried to save by forming a human chain. The girl was saved, but the men died.

„Tourists should immediately call the lifeguards. On a red flag, they shouldn’t even enter the water; swimming is completely forbidden for everyone. Still, at least lifeguards have experience and equipment that allows them to be safe. Although not all cases have ended well, last year we lost a colleague,” said Gabriel Culea for G4Media.

Culea says that in Constanța and Mamaia, there haven’t been any physical assaults on lifeguards so far, only verbal. When tourists cross the line, the lifeguards, who legally can’t fine the tourists, call the police:

„They were treated rudely, disrespectfully. But when they crossed the line, our colleagues called 112 [emergency number], the Police and Gendarmerie came and fined them,” Culea continues.

The lifeguard coordinator believes that this year there were more interventions by the police because several factors coincided:

A very large number of tourists were on the beach for an extended period, and throughout this time, the weather was unfavorable with strong winds, currents, and swimming bans.

„In other situations, when the red flag was raised, there wasn’t such a large crowd. There were one or two who tried to enter first. Then another 1-2 tried and so on. Now they were entering by the tens, hundreds at once. They saw each other and thought: If they go in the water, it’s okay, we will too. But we don’t get into either verbal or physical altercations with them. We try to help them,” Gabriel Culea explains.

Most often, lifeguards hear bizarre remarks that have nothing to do with safety and protecting the physical integrity of tourists, but rather with money and free time:

„I am good, I swim well,” „What, are you paying for my vacation?”, „I can handle it, leave me be”, „Don’t interfere in my life, I’m here on my own money, not yours,” „Nothing will happen to me,” „Do you know how much it cost me to come and bathe?”, „I won’t be taken by a wave.” These are among the replies that lifeguards most often hear when they ask tourists to get out of the water during a red flag, Culea added.

The man says that when patrolling with the ATV and loudspeaker, many tourists understand the situation and get out of the water. This year, he even met a category of tourists who jumped in to help the lifeguards when they were verbally attacked or shouted at by other tourists: „But because there were so many, other categories also appeared, that’s the explanation.”

Usually, tourists run away when they are saved from near-drowning because they fear being fined by the Police or Gendarmerie:

„We save them, bring them to shore, they recover, and they just run away, fearing the police,” said the lifeguard coordinator of Constanța and Mamaia.

A lifeguard risks his life every day with a red flag raised for a monthly salary of 3,000-5,000 lei, working 5 days a week, 8-10 hours each day. During the peak season, they work up to 10 hours a day. Culea says that lifeguards don’t come for the salary, but because they love the profession:

„There are many lifeguards who don’t come for the salary: 3,000 – 5,000 lei. We also have 2-3 days off per week, working in shifts. The schedule is 8-10 hours every day. In the peak season, in July for example, we work over 10 hours, especially if there are many people and a red flag, we can’t leave the beach,” Gabriel Culea told G4Media.

Claudia Tatarici, spokesperson for the Constanța County Ambulance Service, told G4Media that due to the recent drownings, both tourists

and residents need to be much more careful. They need to obey the flags and listen to the recommendations of the lifeguards.

„It’s not a joke, it’s not fun. This is about the lives of people,” she added.

In the end, Claudia Tatarici sends a clear message: „Respect the flags! They aren’t just for decoration!”

ISU (Emergency Situations Inspectorate) Dobrogea reported that this season, from June 4th to August 15th, there were 51 situations where people were in danger. Out of these, 31 were saved, 4 were false alarms, and 16 people drowned—a number similar to last year during the same period, according to statistics published in the press last year:

„To avoid such tragedies, we call on citizens to follow a few simple rules:
– Frequent only specially designated swimming areas;
– Always follow the recommendations of the lifeguard/site manager, especially the meaning of the flags displayed at the lifeguard posts;
– Do not engage in daredevil acts by diving off supports, platforms, bridges, or other structures;
– Do not enter cold water when overheated, after spending a long time in the sun;
– Never leave children unsupervised in or near water, not even in pools specially purchased for them;
If you notice individuals in need of help or situations where lives are in danger, call the emergency number 112 immediately,” the representatives of ISU Dobrogea told G4Media.
The Constanța County Police Inspectorate did not respond to G4Media’s request for a statement regarding tourists’ aggression towards lifeguards, the high number of drownings in a short time span, and the fines imposed on the coast for not obeying lifeguards’ orders or assaulting them.

Context

Lifeguards in Eforie Nord were beaten by three tourists who allegedly did not follow their instructions, while the red flag was raised. The conflict was spontaneous, claims IPJ Constanța.

Two individuals were taken to the hospital for medical care, and a criminal file was opened for battery and other violence, and for disturbing public order and peace.

During the mini-break of Saint Mary, six tourists lost their lives, and several people were barely saved because they did not heed the lifeguards’ warnings and went into the sea despite the high waves and strong currents.

The conflict began after a tourist threw a stone at a lifeguard on a jet ski, and the situation escalated quickly, according to Digi24.

Other men on the beach, their girlfriends, and the lifeguard’s colleagues, who came to his aid, also got involved. One of the lifeguards was also hit in the head during the conflict.

The lifeguard says he was attacked with stones by the man he was trying to save and was then struck when he got near him:

„It’s not normal to come and save a person’s life, and he puts you in a situation to kill you. They are extremely aggressive. Part of them, 90%, listen, but some, 10%, are always… That person was probably intoxicated, to throw a stone, I don’t know…”, the assaulted lifeguard told Dig24.
Six tourists drowned on the coast in a single day.

On Monday, August 14, due to the crowded conditions and a turbulent sea with strong currents, six tourists died, drowning on the Romanian coast.

Another man died the same day in the Venus resort. A 65-year-old man felt ill in the water. He was pulled out unconscious and was declared dead.

The ISU Dobrogea military intervened the same day in Costinești after several witnesses said they saw a man in danger of drowning. He was not found, but after the search resumed on Tuesday, the man was brought ashore and was declared dead.

Cristian Andrei Leonte contributed to this article.