News

Tourism officials in Goa, India, are desperately seeking lifeguards after just one out of 129 hopefuls passed the swimming test.

Those hoping to become lifeguards in the coastal town were asked to swim 400 metres in nine minutes, reports the Times of India.

Only one swimmer managed to do it within the required time, while almost half failed to even complete the distance.

'It was a revelation,' Sanjit Rodrigues, managing director of the Goa Tourism Development Corporation, told the newspaper.

'We can at best relax age qualifications of candidates, but definitely not pick up lifeguards who cannot meet the standards.

'But there is some hope as some of the candidates cleared the stretch in 12 to 15 minutes. Maybe with training they can improve,' he added.

Goa has been a popular holiday destination among foreign and Indian tourists for many years, but a number of recent incidents have led officials to launch a lifeguard recruitment scheme.

They hope to have 100 guards patrolling the beaches by February.

© Adfero Ltd