Guardamar del Segura Council has launched a public tender worth more than €1.3 million to provide lifeguard, rescue, surveillance, first aid and accessible bathing services along its 11km coastline. The initial contract will run for two years from the formal start date and may be extended to a maximum of four years.

Beach safety provision will follow a seasonal timetable set out in the tender documents, dividing the year into off-season, low, medium and high seasons based on visitor numbers. The council has confirmed that additional maritime safety services during Holy Week will be awarded through a separate tender process already underway.

The move follows controversy last year when the Spanish Red Cross was excluded from bidding and the contract was awarded to an Andalucian firm for one year. During the summer of 2025, lifeguards reported equipment shortages and material deficiencies.

Due to the contractor failing to meet some obligations, the council reinforced the service using its own resources, including deploying two Local Police quad bikes for beach patrols. Bidding companies must now demonstrate sufficient staff, equipment and operational capacity to guarantee safety across Guardamar’s entire coastline.