Kalajoki beach to get lifeguard patrols after last year’s drownings

Lifeguard patrols will return to Kalajoki’s Hiekkasärkkä beach for the first time in decades this Midsummer, following the drowning deaths of three young people last July, Yle reports.

The Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) ordered improvements after the incident. The beach now has new wooden walkways, information boards, life rings, and buoys to mark the swimming area. A section of the seabed has also been leveled to create a safer wading zone, though low water levels currently leave much of it dry.

Sanna Päivärinta, a sailing and stand-up paddleboarding instructor with 15 years of experience, was among those who searched for the missing teens. She helped recover one of the bodies on her SUP board. Now, she leads the newly formed Kalajoki Beach Patrol, a team of five lifeguards who will work in pairs from 11:00 to 20:00 daily, starting Midsummer and continuing until the school year begins.

Päivärinta said the beach’s deceptive shallow sandbars, which extend far from shore, attract visitors unaware of the risks. The patrol’s role includes advising swimmers on safe behavior. She noted that authorities have worked closely with local stakeholders to clarify responsibilities and coordination.

Midsummer weekend, a peak period for the beach, will be the first major test for the new patrol.