KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Parks is thinking about increasing the number of lifeguards at islands popular among locals and tourists, says Datuk Christina Liew.
The Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister said Sabah Parks director Dr Maklarin Lakim mentioned this after a tourist from China drowned at Sapi Island on Friday (March 15).
"They are studying if there is a need to increase the number of lifeguards on Sabah's islands," she said in a statement on Sunday (March 17).
She also advised all tourists to wear life jackets when they participate in water-based activities including swimming and snorkelling.
"Wearing a life jacket at sea is a must to avoid any misadventure. Refrain from taking risks even if you are adept at swimming.
"This unfortunate incident at Sapi Island is heart-wrenching and regrettable. We cannot afford to have holidays ending in tragedy as this could hurt Sabah's tourism industry," she said.
The victim, identified as Zhou Chunguang, 51, was found dead by other tourists who were swimming at the island on Friday afternoon.
It is learnt that he had gone swimming alone while his wife stayed on the beach.
Police have classified the case as sudden death.
