KOTA KINABALU: Lifeguards at Tunku Abdul Rahman Park here, one of the main islands gateways in the city, have rescued 1,234 people from drowning since 2006.
Sabah Parks director Dr Jamili Nais said during the period of 10 years, the islands had also registered 10 drown cases and 440 had encountered minor accidents.
"We have 48 certified lifeguards and four marshals being stationed at the islands of the park.
"Visitors' safety is one of the challenges for the booming tourism industry," he said during the celebration of 43rd year of the park's gazettement.
Annually, there are about half million of visitors coming to the five islands-Manukan, Sapi, Manukan, Mamutik and Sulug-at the parks here.
Most of the accidents involved visitors aged 40 and below.