SEDGEFIELD NEWS - Sedgefield's beaches were well guarded by the Eden Life Savers during the past season.
Sadly during the 2014/2015 season young Joss van Kerkhoff (17) and an unnamed 70-year-old German tourist drowned at Platbank and Myoli beaches respectively. In an attempt to prevent such tragedies from happening again, Greg Vogt of Knysna & Partners initiated the start of a local lifesaving club in Sedgefield.
Following several adverts requesting the assistance of qualified lifesavers, Mike Wood offered his expertise in getting the lifeguards - one local young lady and the others from George - ready for the season.
"I was contracted to supervise the Sedgefield lifeguards stationed at Myoli, Swartvlei beaches and Sedgefield lagoon mouth," explained Wood. "This group was amazing inasmuch as they organised themselves as far as the annual Lifesaving SA retests went and their own fitness levels expected on the beaches," he added.
Wood attended one pre-season meeting with most of the lifesavers. This one meeting resulted in him running the lifesaving operation two days later on the Sedgefield beaches. "I circulated between the beaches (sometimes three times a day), but for all purposes these youngsters had to take the responsibility of bathers' safety onto themselves."
Wood was able to instil the awareness that the job of a lifesaver requires and the seriousness thereof. To his delight the season ended with no negative reports or comments. "All credit must go to the 12 young people that sat out in all sorts of weather, making sure that all beachgoers were safe."
The lifesavers were needed to assist with three rescues wherein each time a bather had to be brought back to land. Fortunately no further action was required.
"I tasked them [the Life Savers] with proactive, not reactive, lifesaving - and the results show," said Wood.
Images of lazy days chatting up young beachgoers did not form part of these young lifesavers' days.
"Each day the young men and woman swam the demarcated areas to check for rip currents etc. This exercise also kept up their own fitness levels with training both during and after hours," explained Wood.
In closing he added, "It's difficult to explain the feeling of pride I took away at season end. I have been involved in Durban lifesaving including the notorious January 1 for many years, but these youngsters were awesome."
Knysna municipal manager Grant Easton concurred and said: "The Sedgefield lifesavers did a really good and professional job, and we would like to thank and congratulate them on a job well done."
Read related articles here:
ARTICLE AND PHOTO: FRAN KIRSTEN
'We bring you the latest Sedgefield, Garden Route news'
