WATER sport enthusiasts are being urged to take all the necessary safety precautions during their aquatic activities, particularly as there has been a rise in jet ski-related incidents.
The body of a 34-year-old Bahraini was recovered from the sea by the Coastguard over the weekend, as reported in the GDN. The rider was believed by the Interior Ministry to have drowned after falling off his jet ski close to a beach at Amwaj Islands.
Members of the Royal Life Saving Bahrain (RLSB) charity organisation, which was founded in 2016 by chairperson Shaikha Nayla bint Hamad bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, were disheartened after hearing about the tragedy.
“We’re deeply saddened to hear of the death by drowning of a jet skier,” said RLSB general manager Sam Rahman. “While an investigation is underway to understand the circumstances of the incident, our sincere condolences go to the family and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.
“Drowning impacts us all, and we must continue our efforts as a community to highlight the risks and prevent these tragic incidents from happening.”
Another jet ski-related rescue occurred earlier this month on May 20 when a 39-year-old man got into difficulty when his machine capsized in the waters off the Muharraq coast.
While they are not inherently dangerous, jet ski accidents happen, often due to inexperienced operators, riders who take unnecessary risks, or riders who overestimate their own skill and don’t fully understand the behaviour of their watercraft in different situations.
“Jet ski accidents have become more common with the rise in popularity of the sport, and the number of accidents are increasing. With speeds up to 70 miles per hour out of the box, they require practice and skill to be driven. Riders need to become familiar with their craft in a safe manner,” said Tim Conner of aquasportsplanet.com.
Mr Rahman and his colleagues encourage all jet ski users to wear a life jacket.
The newspaper reported in July last year that there were seven fatal drowning tragedies in 2020 and five in 2021, alongside four non-fatal incidents in 2020 and one in 2021.
In February, Mr Rahman had said that his team had made 411 rescues from six semi-private beaches.
According to reports, since November 2021, 487,621 people had visited the beaches with 28,514 preventative actions being performed by lifeguards
The RLSB currently has 160 trained volunteer lifesavers who perform a variety of roles within the organisation, from helping to deliver educational programmes in schools and at beaches, to providing first-aid support at events across the country.
They also support the lifeguards on the six beaches where RLSB provides lifeguard service. The volunteers are aged between 16 and 60, and come from a variety of nationalities and careers.
The GDN reported last week that awareness campaigns were launched by the Bahrain Coastguard in Muharraq and Al Dar Islands to promote safety among swimmers and seafarers during summer.
The campaign highlighted safety instructions that must be followed when going out to sea, especially for those who use kayaks and water bikes.
Life jackets were given out as part of the campaign, and people were encouraged to wear them whenever they were out at sea.
mai@gdnmedia.bh
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