MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – The City of Myrtle Beach has suspended its agreement with Myrtle Beach Lifeguards.

City spokesman Mark Kruea couldn’t tell News13 exactly how the suspension came about. All he would really say is that it’s an accusation the city is taking seriously.

Millions of people come to Myrtle Beach every year and many of them come just for the beach. Safety is a priority for the city, which is why it contracts out lifeguards. City spokesman Mark Kruea says those companies are usually fine. That is, until Monday.

“We had some questions about whether or not the lifeguards for one of the water safety franchisees had their lifeguard cards, and if they were fully certified, so while we look into that, we’ve suspended that particular water safety franchise.”

That franchise is called Myrtle Beach Lifeguards. Kruea says this is something the city can’t play around with.

“It’s not something that you can have a little grey area in. This is a fairly defined art for the lifeguards and we need to make sure they are meeting the letter of this franchise agreement.”

The letter states that all lifeguards must see well, hear well and have the physical ability to be a lifeguard. They must have a valid lifeguard card. They must demonstrate an ability to swim 500 meters in twelve minutes. They have to be CPR certified; first aid certified and finally, have 40 hours of training in open water life saving.

Kruea could not say if Myrtle Beach lifeguards violated any of those requirements.

“No I cannot say that they are definitely in violation. We have suspended them while we look into this matter. We are not confident that all of the lifeguards had their current certifications.”

Until the city is confident, John’s Beach Service and Lack’s Beach Service will take over. That will be extra work for the two companies but Kruea said there’s not really another option.

“Once the question is there you need to have confidence that it either is this way or it’s not this way.”

We reached out to the Myrtle Beach Lifeguard company. No one wanted to comment. Mark Kruea could not give News13 a timeline of how long it will take to check the certification of that company’s lifeguards.