A spectacular triple rescue by Mister Ok, traffic at a standstill with the Cristoforo Colombo blocked and the seafront so clogged that it was impossible to find a parking space. Traffic jams not only on the roads, but also on the beaches: the free ones were stormed but large numbers in terms of attendance also in the establishments. Summary and photography of – perhaps – the first “real” day at the seaside for many Romans.
EMERGENCIES
The sun and high temperatures have led many to flock to the beaches to dive and sunbathe. The lifeguards’ debut on the beaches of Castel Porziano was characterized by moments of fear. The baywatch were immediately put to the test and within two hours they rescued two little girls and a 26-year-old at the Second Gate. Among the lifeguards who intervened to save them, there is Maurizio Palmulli, 71 years old, aka Mister Ok who jumped from Ponte Cavour every January 1st for the traditional New Year’s dive. Then, forced to give up this year – after 35 years – for back health reasons, but nevertheless he was “enlisted” as a lifeguard in Castel Porziano. The first alarm went off around 1.30pm, when two little girls risked being dragged away by the current: the prompt intervention of the lifeguards avoided the worst, bringing the two little girls back to the shore. Not even an hour later, a 26-year-old Pakistani national was dragged offshore by the current: not knowing how to swim, the boy panicked, floundering in the waves. Having noticed what was happening, lifeguard Silvano Terenzio, president of the Lazio section of the National Association of Lifeguards (Anab), immediately entered the water with his skate and, despite the bad sea conditions, managed to reach and save the 26 year old. Once the boy was transported to shore, visibly in shock, he was helped by Mister Ok while awaiting the arrival of the ambulance, which according to those present would have taken more than 35 minutes to arrive. «We return to ask that the historic medical facility on the beach of Castel Porziano be restored», is the comment of Anab, which has been fighting for years to protect the safety of bathers at the Cancelli. “It is the only way to guarantee rapid intervention and avoid tragedies.”
CHAOS
The free beaches of the city center crowded mainly by tourists arriving with the “Metromare”, amidst the usual slowdowns and journey-odysseys. The frequency continues to be one train every 20 minutes. On the Cristoforo Colombo we traveled at walking pace, as well as on the other “directions” towards the coast: via del Mare, Litoranea and Ostiense. Inconveniences also on the Pontina for sunbathing commuters who stormed the most fashionable beaches of Sabaudia and San Felice Circeo. Traffic on the roads connecting to the sea has been haywire since mid-morning. “Wild parking” is popular on the seafront with cars parked on the pavements and “stacked” in the flowerbeds and gardens.
Busy day also on the southern side. Tragedy in the waters of Anzio. A 66-year-old man resident in Lanuvio drowned this afternoon, around 4.30 pm, in the Ponente sea area in Anzio. The episode occurred on the stretch of free beach, approximately 500 metres, between the Lido Garda and Pilone bathing establishments. The alarm was raised by the man’s partner who was swimming with him in the water. She too was in difficulty and asked for help. Her cries were heard by a 17-year-old boy, Christopher, who reached her and managed, despite the strength of the currents and her undertow, to carry her safely towards her rocks. She was the one who also asked for help for her partner. In Torvaianica, however, a 30-year-old man risked drowning in the body of water overlooking the free beach near the “Tinga”, the bathing establishment in via Nizza. The young man dived together with some friends. The sea was rough and the current quickly pushed him out to sea. The small group immediately realized that the thirty-year-old was in difficulty. He tried to return to the shoreline but was unable to counteract the waves and the force of the sea. He went down several times and drank until his friends, together with some swimmers who came to help, managed to bring him back to shore with clear signs of drowning.
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