Environment and Weather
Warning Issued over Unicorns and Flamingos
Consumer groups and life saving associations are warning of the dangers of inflatables in the sea.
Although not restricted to the two most popular styles, unicorns and flamingos have been seen in the seas already this summer, inflatable devices designed for use in swimming pools, rather than the sea.
The warning is not only issued in Spain however, the UK coastguard had to rescue 15 people recently who had floated out to sea on their unicorns, unable to control their direction or movement.
The conditions of the sea, waves and wind can cause these inflatables to drift out of control, which is of considerable concern to lifeguards this summer on account of their increasing popularity, said to be partly due to their appearance on the TV show, Love Island, and the English football team who used them during breaks in the World Cup in Russia, even holding a race in the hotel pool where they stayed.
Pizza slices, donuts, swans, muffins, whatever the shape of your inflatable, they are not suitable for the sea, and so their use should be restricted to swimming pools, so long as they are permitted.