As many as 100 people were saved by lifeguards at a South Shore beach in three days ? and there are not enough lifeguards to patrol the rest, according to the Parks Department.

Most of those rescued were visitors who disobeyed warnings not to swim at Horseshoe Beach owing to terrific rip currents brought about by Hurricane Frances. The storm?s closest point of approach to Bermuda was forecast to be about 700 miles to the south west at 9 p.m. last night.

Director of Parks, Candy Foggo, said there were 20 rescues on Monday, 40 on Tuesday and 40 on Wednesday, all at Horseshoe Bay.

The timing of the rip currents could not be worse, as most of the lifeguards had ?returned to university early?, giving Ms Foggo ?insufficient notice?, she said. ?Normally (the beaches) are open until Labour Day.?

Three lifeguards were responsible for pulling hordes of struggling swimmers out of harm?s way in the last 72 hours.

?People are coming to Bermuda to use the beaches. Visitors do not follow instructions. They are not used to the ocean and they panic.?

When swimmers get caught in a rip current, they often try to swim back in to shore against the current, but in order to get out safely they have to swim alongside the beach, then back to shore, she said. The lifeguard huts were closed for the rest of the summer at John Smith?s Bay, Clearwater Beach and Turtle Bay in Southampton.