An astonishing 14 accidents per hour were avoided at Clare's nine Blue Flag and two Green Coast beaches by the intervention of Lifeguards with bathers who went into the water at known dangerous bathing locations or who knowingly or unknowingly strayed outside the red and yellow-flagged safe swimming areas.
These figures have been released for the months of June/July and August by Clare County Council whose Lifeguards carried out 92 rescues at patrolled beaches.
The figures also show that first aid treatment was administered to 665 people while ifeguards reunited 39 children with their guardians.
Clare County Council employs 32 full-time lifeguards to cover Clare's 9 Blue Flag and 2 Green Coast beaches during the Summer season. Lifeguard cover in Clare for 2017 finished on Sunday last.