The Civil Defense's Marine Rescue Unit carry the body of a Syrian national who drowned off Amchit beach while swimming. (Photo courtesy of our correspondent Michel Hallak)
BEIRUT — The Civil Defense's Marine Rescue Unit on Saturday morning successfully retrieved the body of a Syrian national who drowned off Amchit beach while swimming on Friday, the state-run National News Agency reported.
The search operation began on Friday evening, following reports of a young man missing in the water. Despite challenging conditions, including high waves and jagged rocky caves, Civil Defense personnel and the Lebanese Army's navy commandos conducted extensive searches along the coast from Amchit to Tripoli throughout the night.
At 8:45 a.m. today, the body was located on the water's surface off President Michel Sleiman Boulevard on Amchit beach and was subsequently retrieved and transferred to the hospital after security services completed necessary legal procedures.
Meanwhile, the General Directorate of Civil Defense issued a warning to people about the dangers of swimming at the beach on Saturday due to high waves and increased wind speed. It also called on beachgoers to refrain from rushing to the aid of people who get into trouble in the water, explaining that doing so may expose them to the risk of drowning in turn, due to their lack of experience. It also warned fishermen, owners of tourist boats, and those who practice jet skiing, paragliding and other water sports to refrain from practicing any activity in this unstable weather.
The General Directorate of Civil Defense instructed people to call 125 to request assistance when needed.
Unstable weather conditions and particularly powerful waves have at times made swimming off Lebanon's coasts particularly risky over the summer.
Reporting contributed by Michel Hallak.
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