Do many tourists get into difficulty on Portuguese beaches?

According to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), about three million Britons visit Portugal each year, with the Algarve the most popular region, for its hotels and villas, beaches and golf courses.

While most hospitalisations of British tourists in Portugal are the result of road accidents, the FCO warns that every year there are reports of drowning on Portuguese beaches, although it couldn’t confirm how many of the 120 deaths on the Algarve between April 2006 and April 2007 (the last available statistics) were drownings.

Is Praia do Tonel known to be dangerous?

Yes. The beach is popular with surfers because of the strong swell and large waves, which makes it a potential danger to swimmers.

How do you know which beaches in the Algarve are safe?

The FCO issues specific advice to tourists to obey the beach warning flags raised by lifeguards, which denote whether it is safe to swim, according to the colour of the flag. Following the passing of a new law in June 2006, bathers who disobey these flags can be fined by the Portuguese Maritime Police.

It is not yet clear whether flags were raised yesterday on Praia do Tonel, but flags are controlled by lifeguards and a Portuguese official has stated that a sign warned bathers that there was no lifeguard on duty. Where no lifeguard is on duty, the FCO advises against swimming.

This advice is backed up by the Association of British Travel Agents spokesman, Sean Tipton, who has had personal experience of the currents on Praia do Tonel. He told Times Online: “The Atlantic coast is open ocean, and shouldn’t be treated in the same way as the Mediterranean. My own experience of this beach is that it has a very strong undertow.

“Most beaches will post flags if it is safe for swimmers to go out and people should pay attention, but if it is an exposed beach they should think about not swimming at all."

How do I interpret the flags?

A red flag indicates danger, and bathers should not enter the water; a yellow flag means it is safe to paddle at the water's edge, but not swim; while a green flag indicates that it is safe to swim, and a chequered flag means the beach is temporarily unmanned by a lifeguard.

Are many Algarve beaches unmanned by lifeguards at this time of year?

Yes. According to the Portuguese Embassy in London, the “tourist season” is considered over by September 30, which means that no lifeguards will be on duty after this time.

John Perriss, managing director of tour operator Destination Portugal, says it is unlikely people would want to swim at this time of year anyway: “The sea off the Algarve is cold, particularly at this time of the year – even the locals don’t go in the water. I wouldn’t expect our clients to want to go swimming.”