VIRGINIA BEACH — A day after two men may have drowned in rough surf conditions , the Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service is advising swimmers to stay out of the ocean Sunday.
The lifeguard service notified subscribers of the city’s public safety alert system around noon on Sunday that the Oceanfront is experiencing red flag conditions and that inexperienced surfers shouldn’t paddle out.
“Swimmers are advised to stay out of the ocean,” the alert said. “Surfers should only enter if they are experienced in rough conditions.”
Lifeguards use a flag system to notify swimmers of hazards. Red flags in lifesaving symbolizes dangerous surf or currents, according to the United States Lifesaving Association. During the summer months, Virginia Beach lifeguards can place red flags on their stands in the sand to alert beachgoers.
However, the lifeguard stands in the resort area were removed last week and red flags are not currently being displayed, according to Tom Gill, chief of the Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service. Four guards in trucks and ATVS are patrolling the resort beach from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.