Full list of rules to follow at Europe's best beach where four tourists have died
Brits can jet off to enjoy Europe's best rated beach for under £30 - but there's important rules to follow for those who go.
And that's because it's a deadly location, with people losing their lives at the location.
In the last decade, four individuals have died at the beach due to the deadly waves that can quickly overwhelm people.
There's no lifeguards at the beach - something that is well advertised to anyone researching a trip - with tour guides now calling for more to be done to help those who might get in to trouble.
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The beach we're talking about can be found in Iceland. And thanks to easyJet, you can fly to Iceland's capital city, Reykjavik, from the UK for as little as £25.
It's not your ordinary beach. There's no sunshine, loungers and sun glasses. No, you'll want to replace them with winter coats with big hoods, hiking boots and thermal gear.
Reynisfjara Beach on the south coast of Iceland is the location ranked as the best beach in Europe. It's notable because of its black colour, with all colour zapped out of the equation due to the island's volcanic nature.
Iceland's official tourism board has for years issued warnings for those visiting Reynisfjara. Given people have died at the beach, they don't mess about with just how serious it can get for those who encounter troublesome conditions.
It concerns 'sneaker waves', which can quickly overwhelm you and drag you out to sea.
The tourism board says: "Sneaker waves make Reynisfjara beach one of the most dangerous destinations in Iceland. However, with the proper precautions, you can avoid yourself or your loved ones, adding to the number of lives lost there."
It adds: "When an ocean wave grabs you, you are knocked off your feet and it is very tough to stand up and find balance again. One of the reasons for that is that the wave creates a suction that drags you out and washes the sand and gravel from under your feet.
"Once you are in the water, the currents will pull you away from the coast and nothing can be done to save you. The water is also freezing and you suffer from hypothermia within just a few minutes."
After one tourist died at the beach in 2021, a tour guide told The Reykjavik Grapvine that more needed to be done at the site to stop further fatalities.
He said: "Putting a string out there or fencing is not going to work. If there’s nobody there, people are going to go under the barrier. You need physical interaction between trained people and the crowds that go there."
With that in mind, the board has also issued a full list of rules to follow if you do visit Reynisfjara Beach.
10 rules to follow if you visit Reynisfjara Beach:
- Read the safety signs thoroughly and follow their advice.
- Stay far from the ocean to avoid getting caught by a wave.
- Be extra cautious if you have children with you and watch them closely.
- Be aware if the tide is rising, which can get you trapped in the cave or on the East-most part of the beach. You can find a tide chart for the area here.
- Stay at a safe distance from the cliffs to avoid rockfalls.
- Don't go anywhere near where the waves are landing. Note that sneaker waves can form even when the weather is calm.
- Don't go bathing or surfing there, being a strong swimmer won't save you.
- Never turn your back to the ocean.
- Don't follow others like sheep, make your own judgments of the danger you may be in.
- Don't put yourself at risk by helping others. That could result in a more complex rescue mission for emergency response teams.
To fly to Reykjavik and visit Reynisfjara Beach, it's as low as £25 from London Luton and Edinburg airports with easyJet. It's slightly more at Manchester (from £28), London Gatwick (from £32), and Bristol (from £35).
Topics: Money, Travel, World News
Tom Earnshaw