“We are also reviewing the model so that next year, outside the summer season, there will be more flexible teams, more during the weekend, depending on the weather, so that there is surveillance throughout the year”, said Maria da Graça Carvalho.

Recalling that this year there were “deaths outside the summer season, on beaches that were not monitored”, the minister said she wanted to “prevent this from happening again or, at least, minimise” the possibility of this occurrence.

Two deaths, 14 rescues and 58 first aid actions on Portuguese beaches in May is the assessment that the National Maritime Authority (AMN) made of the first month of the 2025 bathing season.

According to the AMN, between May 1 and 31, 14 rescues, 58 first aid actions and two fatal victims due to drowning were recorded on Pedrógão beach, in the district of Leiria, an unmonitored bathing area at the time of the accident – ​​on the 25th – as the bathing season only runs on that beach from June 7 to September 14.

Officially, the beginning of the bathing season occurs on June 1, but municipalities are free to start it before or after this date.