Lifeguards showcase lifesaving skills, fitness
130 guards compete at 10th UAE Lifesaving Championship in Fujairah
Some 130 UAE-based professional lifeguards competed and showcased their lifesaving skills at the 10th UAE Lifeguard Championship on Tuesday in Fujairah.
The competition, which has grown from just 12 teams in 2006 to 26 teams this year, is designed to challenge the skills and fitness and recognise the crucial role of lifeguards. It also aims to spread water safety awareness.
Competitors are all certified lifeguards employed at UAE hotels, resorts, waterparks, swimming pools and beaches.
Stewart Hodsoll, event organiser, said: “It is wonderful to see more hotel teams showing interest in the championship, as it is a key event in spreading water safety awareness apart from being a platform to showcase the skills and abilities of our true unsung heroes — the lifeguard community.”
This year, a dedicated competition was launched for the growing women’s lifeguard community. The event also included for the first time eight young marshals from Dubai English Speaking College, who volunteered for the event.
Participants competed in six challenging events which include a 1km beach run, swim-run-swim, 400-metre surf swim, 120-metre rescue tube rescue, beach flags and 90-metre beach sprint relay.
The team from Wild Wadi bagged the first prize in both men’s and women’s group category, while Nasun Nayanajith from Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort and Chantelle Du Plessis from Wild Wadi won first place in the men’s and women’s individual category, respectively.