Speaking to the Lusa agency, the spokesman for the AMN and Portuguese Navy, Commander José Sousa Luís, warned that at this time of year, the temperatures may be high but there are still “winter seas”, presenting a high risk.

The AMN warns that most beaches are not supervised at this time of year, therefore, the “response to a rescue situation may take a long time, so the people should adopt appropriate and responsible behaviour, not putting themselves in risky situations”.

Rescues

The commander recalled that the AMN rescued 33 people in trouble in the water over the Easter weekend, most of them due to rip tides.

“It is one of the main causes of rescues. A rip tide is a current that moves towards the sand. Usually, it is an area where there is no ripple or where it is weaker, it is a darker area where the sediments are in suspension. If someone gets caught in a rip tide, they shouldn't panic or swim against the current, they'll just get tired and won't be able to reach the sand. You must remain calm, swim parallel to the shore until you get out of that localised current and then swim to the beach”, he explained.

In view of the good weather forecast by the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA) over the weekend, the AMN recommends that children be permanently monitored and that risky behaviour be avoided.

In the event of a dangerous situation in the water, AMN asks you to call 112.