Background Beach tourism has become very popular in many countries including Bangladesh. However, number people dying in these beaches due to lack of safety measures. In this study, we aimed at identifying possible solution in preventing beach drowning.

Methods An in-depth analysis (case study) of a drowning case of Cox’s Bazar beach, Bangladesh was analysed for this study.

Findings Mishu, a university student was on holiday in Cox’s Bazar with his family. On 06 September 2014, he went with his family members to the nearest beach to the hotel where they were staying. Mishu, along with his four cousins, agreed to go into the sea to the chest depth. None of them knew how to swim except Minhaz one of the cousins. They went under the rolling and turbulent water when a large wave came in and broke over their heads. Minhaz tried to help Mishu by pulling him back to the shore. But, he couldn’t as Mishu was quite heavy. Mishu was under the water for about one minute. A patrolling SeaSafe lifeguard and another SeaSafe lifeguard in the watching tower observed the incidence. Both lifeguards rescued the victims from the water and kept the victims in the recovery position at the shore. Mishu started to vomit blood while he was in recovery position. Unfortunately, there was no ambulance available to transfer him to a hospital. So, the lifeguards hired an auto. After arriving at the hospital, he was kept in the recovery position and oxygen and an intravenous saline drip 10 minutes after his arrival. His family members were requested to fill in various forms before they started treatment. After few minutes, he became conscious and talked to his relatives. There was no doctor in the emergency department at that time. As the hospital lacked any expertise to help drowning victims immersed in saline water, Mishu’s family was requested to transfer him to the nearest (143 km from Cox’s Bazar) tertiary level hospital for further treatment. Mishu’s condition worsened and he died within two hours of his arrival in the hospital.

Conclusion Analysis of this case could be a think point for enforcing beach patrolling by lifeguards (with lifesaving skills) and establishment of emergency medical care with ambulance services.