Brit Ignores Red Flags on Lanzarote Beach.

woe10 · January 07, 2013, 02:42:24 AM

British father, 44, drowns in Lanzarote, in 'hell-like' sea conditions after ignoring red warning flags

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2257988/British-father-44-drowns-Lanzarote-hell-like-sea-conditions-ignoring-red-warning-flags.html#ixzz2HFlOuqRh

Brightspark · January 07, 2013, 18:11:23 PM

Great to see the media male bird up from time to time....

This morning it was "British Father"
Now it's "Irish Father"

nevertheless struggling to find sympathy with this story, harsh but honestly.....

woe10 · January 07, 2013, 18:26:32 PM

Quote from: brightspark on January 07, 2013, 18:11:23 PM
Great to see the media male bird up from time to time....

This morning it was "British Father"
Now it's "Irish Father"

nevertheless struggling to find sympathy with this story, harsh but honestly.....

I´m with you on that statement. Red flag means "DON´T GO IN THE SEA", end of. When will they learn.

jill tie · January 09, 2013, 10:45:27 AM

Your right about being harsh.

Charlie99 · January 09, 2013, 21:59:41 PM

What kind of people are you?

THE MAN IS DEAD he paid with his life for his mistake.
His wife and children are now missing a husband and father.

I am sure that you people have never made a mistake in your life (darted across the road?).

I am shocked and appalled that another human being could say that they have no sympathy for this man's family and put his death down to a deliberate action, therefore he and his family got what they deserved.

Heartless sick people, the man is dead, have respect please, and I'm sure his wife and kids could do without your opinion.

Ronnietheblue · January 09, 2013, 22:20:02 PM

Well said Charlie, he may have been stupid and irresponsible, but who hasn't. He has paid the ultimate price, and we all know the Daily Mail loves to embellish a story, my sympathies go to the loved ones he's left behind.

Ivemovedon · January 10, 2013, 08:25:25 AM

so which newspaper do you suggest we read to get an unbiased and unembellished report of this story? I actually read that article in the Mail and it was a normal piece of reporting of the facts as far as i could see. No mention of the poor fella concerned being a Tory ,UKip, homosexual or closet racist. Just he swam when a red flag was flying and drowned.

Brightspark · January 10, 2013, 08:58:06 AM

Quote from: Charlie99 on January 09, 2013, 21:59:41 PM
no sympathy for this man's family

I never said I had no sympathy for his family.
The comment was actually directed at the guy himself.

Advised not to enter the sea...... goes for a dip.
stupid.

Charlie99 · January 10, 2013, 22:15:19 PM

Brightspark
The words you used where (nevertheless struggling to find sympathy with this story, harsh but honestly.....

The man made a mistake I would assume he did not enter the water thinking he would be dead very shortly.
Perhaps a few pints, not knowing what the red flag indicated, perhaps he only wanted to paddle in a couple of feet, who knows?

One thing I do know.
The man didn't commit suicide and made a deathly mistake that cost him his life and also left his family without a father and his wife without her husband.

For that any human being would find sympathy in their hearts for a sad and tragic accident.

It will not only devastate his family but also that he was someone baby boy at one time.

I don't particularly want to discuss this man's death anymore as I have respect.

Blueboy7 · January 10, 2013, 22:27:04 PM

Nice comments Charlie. There are some strange, cold people about.

woe10 · January 10, 2013, 23:30:14 PM

Once again, this brings up the debate about there being Lifeguards on the beaches all year round, not just July and August when the Spanish are on holiday, after all, this is an all year round destination for tourists from all around the world.
High wages are paid to Guardia Civil to stand at roundabouts and pull motorists over for no apparent reason. Why not pay lifeguards, who could save lives.

Brightspark · January 10, 2013, 23:40:19 PM

Quote from: Charlie99 on January 10, 2013, 22:15:19 PM

The man made a mistake I would assume he did not enter the water thinking he would be dead very shortly.
Perhaps a few pints, not knowing what the red flag indicated, perhaps he only wanted to paddle in a couple of feet, who knows?

If the flags were up (which according to the report they were) then it was his responsibility to enter at his own risk, which he did, and indeed he paid for it.

Sad for his family, absolutely, but that's as far as it goes.

SheilaW · January 11, 2013, 22:01:02 PM

Quote from: woe10 on January 10, 2013, 23:30:14 PM
Once again, this brings up the debate about there being Lifeguards on the beaches all year round, not just July and August when the Spanish are on holiday, after all, this is an all year round destination for tourists from all around the world.
High wages are paid to Guardia Civil to stand at roundabouts and pull motorists over for no apparent reason. Why not pay lifeguards, who could save lives.

How many kilometres of beach are there out here in the Canaries? How many lifeguards would you need per kilometre? How many hours per day? Some people like to go for an early dip, some late, many in-between, so you'd probably need two shifts. You're talking about vast numbers of people.

And for what? The beaches aren't exactly packed outside of July/August - that's one of the great attractions of the place. There shouldn't be anything for them to do when the red flags are flying. And those red flags aren't something only Canarians know about - we all know what they mean. I certainly feel sympathetic for his family, but ultimately adult human beings have to take responsibility for themselves and their loved ones. I don't know the details of the story (and I don't believe much of what I read in newspapers), but nobody forced him into the sea. It's no good expecting everyone else to shoulder that responsibility, and pay for it.

Whether you like it or not (and I'm not keen myself) those Greenies are bringing in money; lifeguards would simply be yet another drain on over-stretched resources.

AE1905 · January 12, 2013, 00:01:45 AM

RIP. My sympathies go to the family.

Ivemovedon · January 12, 2013, 08:23:40 AM

The beaches ARE Fuerteventura. Its what 90% of people go for. Its what brings in the dinero. It should be the FIRST thing they spend their money on. Improvements and safety in this area should be paramount..Perhaps a few quid less spent on brand new shopping arcades and roads that lead nowhere and they might find the funds for a few more lifegaurds. And if they find it that impossible to come up with the money how about forcing the big hotels to pay for them.

Ronnietheblue · January 12, 2013, 11:16:48 AM

Understand what everyone is saying, and because we are frequent visitors to Fuerte, checking the flags is done as the norm. I have heard tho numerous times people asking what they mean. The simple cheap solution to me, is that all flights to the canaries, could hand out a flyer, not only explaining the flag system, but other traps, tourists fall into i.e just cos its windy and may feel chilly, the sun still burns. How many first day lobsters have you all seen! Also on arrival at hotels/complexes how many people check out emergency exits/ fire extinguishers/break glasses etc. A cheap flyer to me is the solution, even if it means adding 5p to the cost of the flight.

woe10 · January 12, 2013, 12:13:18 PM

I think Ryanair would charge £1.00, nevertheless, a bit of education on the trip over, and advice from the Reps ( as opposed to just selling trips), would be a good idea.

meggie · January 12, 2013, 12:36:46 PM

Its a case of where does the responsability lie, personally i dont see that it lies with the hotels nor the airlines.It should certainly be mentioned by the reps as they do have some responsability to their customers.

woe10 · January 12, 2013, 16:59:39 PM

Having said that, people seem to know that a RED Light means STOP. They should know that a RED FLAG means DANGER: DON´T GO IN THE SEA.

Magoo · January 12, 2013, 18:16:21 PM

"One local said the waters off Playa Blanca, in the resort of Puerto del Carmen, were 'like hell' at the time of the tragedy."

If this is true, & not just DM hype, do you really need red flags? I have been up to Cofete & wached the Atlantic do it's best to pound the beach away. Can't say that it crossed my mind to go for a dip. Tough on the guys family, but as the old UK road safety advert said "It's hard having a fool for a father"