2023-10-24 21:44:35
Accidents in the Mediterranean Sea remained at a “very high” level last summer, the Mediterranean Regional Operational Surveillance and Rescue Center (Cross Med) announced on Tuesday. Between May 1 and September 30, thirty-three people died (-5%), including three after illness or an accident, thirteen while swimming, six while diving, with or without tanks. And 223 others were injured (-15%)
Over this extended summer season, “3,026 operations at sea were coordinated by Cross Med” compared to 3,258 over the same period of 2022, i.e. a drop of 7.1% in interventions, mainly caused by damage, indicated Amaury de Guillebon. , the deputy director of Cross Med. “The worrying increase in accidents recorded” since 2019 “seems to have stopped”, but “we nevertheless remain on a very high plateau”, estimated the maritime prefect, squadron vice-admiral Gilles Boidevezi.
Undeclared activities on the rise
After the pandemic and confinements, many people rushed to the coast to take advantage of their regained freedom and experiment with new “democratized” leisure activities, but often without experience or adequate preparation. A craze which has also led to an increase in undeclared and less secure activities (sea scooters rented without vests for example), explained Cross Med officials. The latter deplored “irresponsible” behavior, a frequent cause of accidents.
“A lot of people are enjoying water sports, which is a good thing. However, they go to sea without having looked at the weather forecast, without knowing the regulations, while drunk, or even after having taken drugs,” explained Gilles Boidevezi. However, “the sea is a school of responsibility and humility”, he underlined.
Better sharing of space
The maritime prefect notably pointed out “the somewhat worrying increase” in diving accidents: 149 in total, including 122 diving accidents with tanks (+10%). “We see people over 50, not particularly sporty, embarking on complex dives at 30 meters depth,” he said, calling on diving clubs to be more “vigilant”.
The vice-admiral, himself “in the process of signing an order to ban jet-skis in marine protected areas”, spoke out in favor of “reflecting on an evolution of the boat license” and, more broadly, regulations . “We need to move towards a little more organization on the water bodies” and better sharing of space “between swimmers and windfoilers”, between divers and boats, he said, adding to discuss it with the central administrations.
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