The council responsible for Camber Sands, where five young men drowned last month, has confirmed it is considering bowing to pressure to employ permanent lifeguards at the beach.
Nitharsan Ravi, Inthushan Sriskantharasa, Gurushanth Srithavarajah and brothers Kobi and Ken Nathan, all from London, died after being pulled from the sea during a day trip to the East Sussex resort on 24 August.
Relatives of some of the men suggested they might have survived if lifeguards had been deployed. More than 8,000 people have signed a petition calling for lifeguards at Camber Sands during the busy summer months.
RNLI lifeguards were posted there temporarily on the August bank holiday weekend, but Rother district council has yet to decide on longer-term provision. The council said all options were being considered.
A spokesman said: “In light of recent tragic events and the changing profile of visitors to the beach, we are in the process of reviewing and considering all options for next year, including the provision of a lifeguard service.”
The RNLI is negotiating with the council about providing such a service. A spokesman said: “We have been talking to Rother district council but no lifeguard service has been agreed for 2017.”
Some local residents said money raised through car parking charges at Camber should fund lifeguards throughout the summer.
Council bosses have said summer patrols advise people of potential dangers. They said some people visiting from outside the area were unfamiliar with the sea and the dangers it poses.
