Tunisian civil protection warned this Friday, July 4, 2025 against the risks of thermal shock at sea, a potentially deadly phenomenon which results from the contrast between external heat and freshness of water.
In an alert published on his Facebook page, the Civil Protection spokesman explained that this thermal shock can lead to a sudden loss of knowledge, leading to the risk of drowning, especially when the difference between the temperature of the air and that of the water is important.
Two deaths were recently reported as a result of this phenomenon, one occurred on El Hmari beach in Rafre (Bizerte governorate) and the other on the beach of Marsa (northern suburbs of Tunis). The victims would have plunged directly into the sea after practicing a sporting activity under a burning sun, which would have triggered the fatal thermal shock.
Civil protection has detailed possible symptoms: muscle cramps, chills, hearing or vision disorders, skin itching, intense fatigue or general discomfort.
Faced with a situation of this type, the authorities recommend getting out of the water immediately, to warm the body, move their arms and especially to ask for help without delay.
During this summer period, holidaymakers are therefore called to prudence and to avoid brutal swimming after prolonged exposure to the sun.
