Police in South Iceland stopped two men who thought it was a good idea to go for a swim in the ocean on Reynisfjara beach in South Iceland. Foreign travellers have been rescued on several occasions after getting into danger when the powerful waves knocked them down, threatening to drag them to sea. Last week a 40 year old Chinese national drowned on Reynisfjara beach when a powerful wave pulled him to sea.
Read more: Photos: Travellers in grave danger on Reynisfjara beach, narrowly escape being swept away by waves
Police in South Iceland posted a temporary guard by the beach following the tragic accident last week. Sveinn Kristján Rúnarsson, the chief of Police in South Iceland told the local news site visir.is that the officers posted to patrol the beach have seen “unbelievable things”: “For example, the other day, we had to stop two men who exited their car with only their swimming trunks on and thought it was just a fine idea to take a swim in the cold sea. They seemed completely oblivious to the dangers.”
A warning and information sign by the beach states clearly that it is dangerous to swim in the sea, although the warning is not particularly prominent. Many people have argued in the past few days that more prominent warning signs are necessary by the beach to ensure visitors are aware of the dangers present at the beach.
Read more: Police, ICE-SAR looking into how to save travellers who refuse to heed warnings in Reynisfjara beach
Sveinn tells visir.is that most visitors respond well to their warnings and requests that people move further from the sea. “But, there are always people who go wherever they intend to go.” The police will maintain a guard on Reynisfjara beach until next Thursday. Sveinn expects other steps will have been taken by then to ensure the safety of travellers on Reynisfjara.
Police in South Iceland stopped two men who thought it was a good idea to go for a swim in the ocean on Reynisfjara beach in South Iceland. Foreign travellers have been rescued on several occasions after getting into danger when the powerful waves knocked them down, threatening to drag them to sea. Last week a 40 year old Chinese national drowned on Reynisfjara beach when a powerful wave pulled him to sea.
Read more: Photos: Travellers in grave danger on Reynisfjara beach, narrowly escape being swept away by waves
Police in South Iceland posted a temporary guard by the beach following the tragic accident last week. Sveinn Kristján Rúnarsson, the chief of Police in South Iceland told the local news site visir.is that the officers posted to patrol the beach have seen “unbelievable things”: “For example, the other day, we had to stop two men who exited their car with only their swimming trunks on and thought it was just a fine idea to take a swim in the cold sea. They seemed completely oblivious to the dangers.”
A warning and information sign by the beach states clearly that it is dangerous to swim in the sea, although the warning is not particularly prominent. Many people have argued in the past few days that more prominent warning signs are necessary by the beach to ensure visitors are aware of the dangers present at the beach.
Read more: Police, ICE-SAR looking into how to save travellers who refuse to heed warnings in Reynisfjara beach
Sveinn tells visir.is that most visitors respond well to their warnings and requests that people move further from the sea. “But, there are always people who go wherever they intend to go.” The police will maintain a guard on Reynisfjara beach until next Thursday. Sveinn expects other steps will have been taken by then to ensure the safety of travellers on Reynisfjara.
