Coastal town leaders push for lifeguard liability limits

SUNSET BEACH, NC  (WWAY) — Coastal town leaders want new legislation to employ lifeguards with limited liability. Brunswick County Commissioners have voted to send a resolution to lawmakers asking for new legislation regarding the issue.

Jim and Gisela Carty both say they don’t mind not having lifeguards on duty at Sunset beach.

“We’ve been coming here for almost 25 years. And it’s a nice calm beach. The waves aren’t that big but you have to watch out for rip currents but there hasn’t been that many dangerous situations in our experience,” said Jim Carty.

Carty says there isn’t a need for lifeguards on Sunset Beach.”It makes people more responsible too, when you tell people there’s not lifeguard here you have to take care of yourself,” said Carty.

Sunset Beach Mayor Ron Watts says he supports legislation meant to limit the risk town’s take on if they employ guards or take other safety measures. He says it gives each municipality options.

“It’ll be a benefit to all the communities in North Carolina. As we are doing public safety, we all have a responsibility to do a good job as possible, but common sense would tell you we shouldn’t be taking on liability at the same time,” said Watts. “We really couldn’t do anything beyond posting signs without taking on liability with the community.”

Mayor Watts says the town has not decided to move forward with hiring lifeguards or doing anything else besides posting signs and having patrols. But this new legislation will help when it comes time to make that decision.

“This is an effort to put another arrow in our arsenal, if you will, when and if the community feels we need to add additional services along the beach,” said Watts.

The mayor added that past drownings at the beach prompted the discussions to increase safety measures, but the cost to employ guards was a lot and liability added to that cost.