Summer is synonymous with the sea, carefree days and holidays. But it is also the season when risks on beaches and in the water increase. Incidents recorded in recent days, together with the state of lifeguard coverage across several districts, are a reminder that safety cannot be taken for granted.
The figures are concerning.
In Paphos, eight of the district's 33 lifeguard towers remain closed. Of the 104 approved positions, only 82 have been filled.
In Larnaca, the situation is even more pronounced. Just 10 of 19 towers are operating and only 20 of 44 approved seasonal lifeguard positions have been filled.
According to the District Administration, the funding is available.
The applicants are not.
In the Famagusta district, 30 towers are operating with 86 lifeguards, while seven towers at smaller beaches remain unstaffed.
Even more worrying is the fact that not a single new lifeguard was added this year, while some personnel left their posts.
The seasonal nature of the work appears to be discouraging new candidates.
Of course, primary responsibility lies with all of us.
The sea does not forgive carelessness.
The serious accident in Protaras, involving a collision between a jet ski and a towed inflatable, which left a 48-year-old man critically injured, demonstrates how quickly recreation can turn into tragedy.
But personal responsibility cannot be used as an excuse for the state's responsibilities.
A country that seeks to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year must treat beach safety as a fundamental component of its tourism product.
Clean beaches, hotels and tourism services are not enough.
We must also be able to guarantee that visitors and Cypriot citizens alike can enjoy the sea in an environment where risks are reduced to the minimum possible level.
That means full staffing of lifeguard towers, adequate operating hours and strict, effective enforcement both at sea and on land.
It means inspections and compliance checks, particularly regarding the use of jet skis and other watercraft.
Summer relaxation is a right.
Safety, however, is an obligation.
And it is an obligation that must be upheld by all of us, citizens and state alike.
