Unflappable guardians of surf

AT SEA: Lifeguards patrol at sea.

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"Welcome to paradise" is the greeting of Taylors Mistake Surf Life Saving Club captain and patrol manager Mike Smith.

A glorious day can also mean a hellish time for the lifeguards entrusted with keeping the crowds safe on Canterbury's beaches this summer.

Hundreds of people can pack a Kiwi beach on a good day during the Christmas-New Year holidays, making it harder to keep swimmers between the flags.

The topography of Taylors Mistake provides additional challenges for lifeguards. They are responsible for accidents involving mountainbikers and trampers on the hills around the beach, while fishermen stationed along the craggy outcrops can also run into difficulties.

Most of the work at Taylors Mistake involves swimmers who have trouble with the rip-tides along the beach and unexpectedly deep patches of water.

During the busy summer period, the Christchurch City Council provides Surf Life Saving Canterbury with funding for professional lifeguards throughout the week. They take turns working at different beaches.

The lifeguards' day starts at 9.45am when they assess water and beach conditions.

After listening to weather reports, deciding where to put the flags and pumping up the inflatable rescue boat, they settle in for a day of watching the water. They take turns working on the beach, but everyone is meant to keep an eye out for someone in trouble. If they can keep people between the flags and away from known rips and holes, it saves a lot of time – and possibly lives.

"While it doesn't have the glamour of [television show] Piha Rescue, it makes for a safe beach," Smith says.

Many of the lifeguards start young. The minimum age to obtain a Surf Lifeguard Award is 14, and regular training means they can be seasoned professionals while still in their teens.

For lifeguard Luke Keats, a university student who has been a lifeguard for six years, the job is a chance to get paid for something he loves.

"My two favourite hobbies are swimming and hanging out at the beach," he says. "If I wasn't a lifeguard, I'd be here anyway."

It can sometimes be slow work, but Keats says they are never short of something to do as "everyone wants to have a chat".

"We're the ones to talk to when you want to know about high tides, the water temperature, the weather forecast – and the best fish and chip and icecream shops."

Cantabrians are generally "quite on to it" when it comes to water safety.

"Most people understand what the flags mean and what they have to do. Sometimes people will set up camp down the far end [of the beach] and just go in down there thinking it's OK."

On a day like this, the lifeguards are likely to finish at 6pm, but they sometimes stay up to two hours longer.

- © Fairfax NZ News