The dangers of swimming at Loe Bar, plus the need to respect the sea, are to be promoted to holidaymakers.

The move comes after Harry Swordy from Guilford lost his life during the early hours of New Year’s Day, allegedly paddling in the stormy sea at Loe Bar.

Speaking at last week’s meeting of Porthleven Town Council, deputy mayor Daniel Williams: “If we could somehow ask holiday homes in Porthleven to highlight this issue, about the dangers of Loe Bar to holidaymakers.”

He added that the other day he saw the red flag flying – indicating danger and a warning not enter the water under any circumstances – but the explanatory sign could not be seen.

“How on earth could anyone, unless they’re into beaching, know about it? I feel it’s a tragedy that’s happened and perhaps we could highlight it as a town council,” he said.

Councillor Andy Wallis said he had been contacted by a number of residents asking what could be done to raise the profile about not swimming at Loe Bar and the dangers generally.

He told the council he had been working with Safer Cornwall, which involved all the emergency services, asking graphic designers to look at a poster or information leaflet to give to holiday homes in Porthleven. He would also speak to the National Trust, which owned the holiday cottage Mr Swordy and his friends were staying in, in a bid to raise awareness.

He was putting some of his community chest fundraising in to producing the leaflets and also planned to approach the town council in the future for funding.

Mr Wallis, who was formerly with the Royal Navy based at RNAS Culdrose, said: “When I joined Culdrose one of the first things we were told was, ‘Do not swim off the Bar.’ Not everyone has the luxury of having that briefing.”

The council is to send a sympathy card to the family and a letter to Porthleven’s coastguard team, together with its headquarters in Falmouth, thanking members for their work – not only in hunting for Mr Swordy but being out during all weathers over the Christmas period.

Mr Wallis, who in the past was a member of the coastguard team, said: “They do sterling work keeping the public safe. They have been out an awful lot of times.”