Two dead in Romanian Black Sea resort drownings as lawmakers propose higher fines

Fatal incidents in Constanța and Neptun

On Saturday, emergency services responded to fatal drowning incidents in Romanian seaside resorts along the Black Sea. In Constanța, police received an alert around 12:30 regarding two minors who entered the water during red flag conditions. A 15-year-old boy from Ploiești, visiting the coast with his family, was swept away alongside a 10-year-old child. Lifeguards brought the younger boy safely back to the beach, but the teenager required a prolonged search operation involving a helicopter. Rescuers eventually pulled the 15-year-old from the water in an unconscious state and attempted resuscitation for several dozen minutes before transporting him to the hospital, where medical staff confirmed his death. Earlier that morning around 09:30, beachgoers in Neptun contacted the 112 emergency service after discovering an 80-year-old man in the water, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Constanța County police opened criminal files for negligent bodily harm and manslaughter to establish the circumstances of both occurrences.

Rescues and dangerous sea conditions in Eforie

Rough waters and strong currents caused multiple hazardous situations further south in Eforie, where lifeguards carried out several emergency interventions. Rescuers assisted a Polish tourist who was pulled from the sea shortly before drowning, as well as a swimmer who drifted beyond the designated safety buoys. Lifeguards reported persistent difficulties keeping swimmers out of the water despite the red flag prohibiting bathing.

Beforehand I warned that gentleman with the jet ski at least 5 times not to advance further. It is very hard to control the large crowd, the red flag is up in vain because hundreds are in the water. With the jet ski I keep pushing them back, but they return behind me.

Lifeguard Claudiu Popescu noted that swimmers using inflatable rings faced rapid offshore currents that pulled people into open water within ten seconds. First aid team member Edoardo Rusu stated that the teenager in Constanța was eventually located relatively near the shoreline. Lifeguards indicated that southern coast conditions could allow shifting the warning from a red flag to a yellow flag on Sunday as winds subside.

Proposed legislation to increase safety fines

Following the recurring safety breaches on Romanian beaches, deputy Ștefan Tănasă submitted a draft bill to the Senate targeting tourists who ignore lifeguard warnings. The legislative proposal introduces fines ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 lei for entering the sea when a red flag is hoisted. The draft also holds guardians accountable, imposing identical penalties of 1,000 to 3,000 lei on parents who allow children to swim during active swimming bans. Under current enforcement, penalties remain limited; a recent offender in Eforie Nord received a 1,000 lei fine after lifeguards had to extract him from the water twice in a single day.

Safety must take precedence over any other holiday considerations.

The proposed bill also reallocates administrative authority regarding beach safety protocols along the Black Sea coast. Responsibility for hoisting the red flag would transfer directly from beach administrators to certified lifeguards who observe real-time marine currents. Tănasă explained that administrators had frequently delayed hoisting the red flag, taking action only after dangerous sea conditions were already present.