Lifesaver TV stars put Durban on world map
THEY were once the unsung heroes along the shore, but with reality TV show Durban Beach Rescue placing them firmly on the map, Durban has a new appreciation of its lifeguards.
“Before a person realises they are in trouble and are about to drown, we are there,” said senior lifeguard Sihle Xaba, who, along with seven other lifeguards are the stars of the locally-produced show, which launched its second series this week.
The new series will be screened on the Travel Channel, DStv channel 179, on Monday, November 27, at 8pm.
“Ever since the first series launched, random people have come up to us to thank us for doing what we do and keeping people safe; usually it was only people who we had saved that thanked us. Even little kids now want to learn about water safety and be lifeguards because of the important work we do,” said Xaba.
The show focuses on the work of the lifeguards, rescues and water safety awareness.
Lifeguard Sue-Ellen Martin said that often people would come up to her to take a photograph with her.
“There has been an overwhelming response from the public; they are more aware about water safety and why we as lifeguards are strict. We have a no-nonsense approach. It’s our duty to prevent accidents from happening and to come to the rescue. Especially as the festive season is approaching, we would like people to listen to the lifeguards,” she said.
Over the 12-part series, viewers will watch lifeguards working between Wedge and uShaka beaches, as well as uMhlanga Main to Bronze Beach and further north to Ballito.
The first series is this year’s top performing show for Travel Channel South Africa.
The series was shot over the December 2016/January 2017 summer season, over 28 days, seven days a week, and 12 hours a day. On the busy days, five cameras and six GoPros, an underwater camera and a drone were used to capture the unfolding drama. About 78 incidents were recorded.
Over the New Year weekend, 800000 people, according to statistics from eThekwini Municipality, visited the beach.
Lifeguard co-ordinator Clint van der Merwe said there was one lifeguard for every 10 to 20000 people at the beach.
“You get trained to spot people in distress. We watch people’s behaviours and when we do respond, we do it as a team,” said Van Der Merwe.
The lifeguards don’t only respond to people in distress in the water: they also keep an eye out for heatstroke, epileptic attacks, fractures and heart attacks.
“We also have to keep an eye on what is happening under water, but this is not easy to do because there are so many people. Sometimes kids will bump each other underwater or butt heads and they can be injured,” said Xaba.
He also warned against the practice of school pupils jumping off the pier in full school uniform to celebrate the end of the school year.
“This is very common at this time of year, and we want to encourage pupils to stop this. People are not allowed to jump off the pier. It poses a challenge for us, especially if there are several jumping in at the same time and they get into distress,” he said.