Deadly "Salto" Dives: Summer Thrill Claims Young Lives on Moroccan Beaches

Accidents due to reckless dives from the rocky heights of the beaches are among the most serious incidents recorded during the summer, said a general practitioner at the Hassan II hospital in the city of Fnideq, stressing that "a single jump can at any time turn into a lifelong disability or a burial". According to him, the emergency services receive during the summer season victims among young people and adolescents, suffering from serious injuries following violent collisions with the seabed or sharp rocks while attempting to perform what is called the "salto".

These random jumps have caused "spinal cord fractures, spinal cord injuries, sometimes permanent paralysis or deaths," the general practitioner also said. "In a moment of distraction, a young person can put an end to their normal life and plunge their family into both health and social suffering," he explained. To prevent these unfortunate incidents from (re)occurring, he calls for intensifying awareness campaigns, particularly in heavily frequented coastal areas.

Also, he urged vacationers to "swim safely, avoid impulsive adventures that could cost them their lives or turn their existence into a permanent tragedy, and respect the prevention guidelines". According to the doctor, ensuring the safety of bathers is a shared responsibility, which begins within the family, and by avoiding swimming in rocky areas or at unknown depths, as these are the most prone to drowning or irreversible injuries.