Beachgoer fined €1,500, Los Boliches

A man was fined for refusing to leave Los Boliches Beach on the Costa del Sol despite the red flag warning that swimming is prohibited. 

According to a Fuengirola town hall statement, the incident happened after lifeguards noticed dangerous ripcurrents in a particular area of the beach. This led them to raise a red flag.

The swimmer repeatedly ignored the warnings of lifeguards and verbally attacked them before police intervened. The man was identified after he had exited the water and reported as a violator of the Municipal Beach Ordinance which prohibits swimming in red flag conditions. He now faces a fine of up to €1,500. The rip currents that were spotted at Boliches Beach can pull bathers into the sea with speeds of up to 2 metres per second. This is much faster than anyone could swim.

Be aware of the warnings and flags from the lifeguards.

The local authorities have stressed the importance to adhere to beach safety regulations, especially during dangerous conditions such as those found at Los Boliches. Red flags signal dangerous situations such as strong currents and rip tides which pose serious risks for swimmers. Yellow flags warn of dangerous conditions. Green flags are a sign of safe conditions. Fuengirola’s Municipal Beach Ordinance forbids swimming when the flag is red. Lifeguards are responsible for enforcing this regulation to ensure public security. The double red flag means to not even enter the beach. And the purple flag indicates that it is forbidden to enter the water because of the presence dangerous marine life.