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Lifeguard of 30 years says it is a 'beautiful lifestyle' | Lifeguard of 30 years says it is a 'beautiful lifestyle' |
(1 day later) | |
Martin White, who has been a lifeguard at Treyarnon Bay in Cornwall for 30 years, said he has no plans of stopping | |
A lifeguard of 30 years' service says "you don't really switch off". | A lifeguard of 30 years' service says "you don't really switch off". |
Treyarnon Bay RNLI lifeguard Martin White, known as "Sharky", has been working at the same beach for decades. | |
The 55-year-old from Newquay said it was a "beautiful lifestyle" and he enjoyed promoting safety and fitness. | The 55-year-old from Newquay said it was a "beautiful lifestyle" and he enjoyed promoting safety and fitness. |
"I will keep going until the young guards catch up with me," he said. | "I will keep going until the young guards catch up with me," he said. |
Mr White said he has no plans to stop being a lifeguard | Mr White said he has no plans to stop being a lifeguard |
Mr White, who is also a maths teacher in Fowey, added: "I'm still enjoying it, it keeps me fit and it's a beautiful lifestyle." | Mr White, who is also a maths teacher in Fowey, added: "I'm still enjoying it, it keeps me fit and it's a beautiful lifestyle." |
He works as a lifeguard at weekends and during the summer holidays, and trains between 10 and 12 hours a week. | He works as a lifeguard at weekends and during the summer holidays, and trains between 10 and 12 hours a week. |
Mr White said his most memorable rescue in 30 years was at Booby's Bay when he and another lifeguard brought in 23 people. | Mr White said his most memorable rescue in 30 years was at Booby's Bay when he and another lifeguard brought in 23 people. |
"We had two spinals that day, that was my busiest day. | "We had two spinals that day, that was my busiest day. |
"That was a day when we had a really long wave period, so it would go flat for a while and then a really big set would come through. | "That was a day when we had a really long wave period, so it would go flat for a while and then a really big set would come through. |
"They were just getting caught in the rip." | "They were just getting caught in the rip." |
Mr White wants people to stay safe during the August Bank Holiday | Mr White wants people to stay safe during the August Bank Holiday |
Mr White warned there would be similar conditions on the August Bank Holiday Monday, adding it will be a day where beachgoers "must listen to the lifeguards, stay in the area and ask for advice". | Mr White warned there would be similar conditions on the August Bank Holiday Monday, adding it will be a day where beachgoers "must listen to the lifeguards, stay in the area and ask for advice". |
Over the years, he has also noticed a change in public attitude towards safety thanks to the RNLI spreading awareness about the dangers of rip currents, the flags and about asking for advice. | Over the years, he has also noticed a change in public attitude towards safety thanks to the RNLI spreading awareness about the dangers of rip currents, the flags and about asking for advice. |
"From that we have had a lot more thanks as well," Mr White added. | "From that we have had a lot more thanks as well," Mr White added. |
"On some rescues, we will educate them and sometimes they will ask why it happened and we will then explain about the rip currents, the beach and where they got caught." | "On some rescues, we will educate them and sometimes they will ask why it happened and we will then explain about the rip currents, the beach and where they got caught." |
He said there were still a few lifeguards in the South West who are in their 40s and 50s and that some of the younger lifeguards "look up to us". | He said there were still a few lifeguards in the South West who are in their 40s and 50s and that some of the younger lifeguards "look up to us". |
Erin Archibald was trained to become a lifeguard by Mr White, who was also her maths teacher | Erin Archibald was trained to become a lifeguard by Mr White, who was also her maths teacher |
Among them is his former maths student Erin Archibald, who was trained by Mr White to become a lifeguard. She is now works at the same beach after volunteering at Padstow last year. | Among them is his former maths student Erin Archibald, who was trained by Mr White to become a lifeguard. She is now works at the same beach after volunteering at Padstow last year. |
"He was my maths teacher at secondary school," she said. | "He was my maths teacher at secondary school," she said. |
"Everyone at school knows he is a lifeguard and we call him 'Sharky' at school rather than sir." | "Everyone at school knows he is a lifeguard and we call him 'Sharky' at school rather than sir." |
She said there has been a change in dynamic between them both since working at the same beach. | She said there has been a change in dynamic between them both since working at the same beach. |
Ms Archibald added: "I'm used to being shouted at for not knowing how to do my equations but now it's a lot of fun." | Ms Archibald added: "I'm used to being shouted at for not knowing how to do my equations but now it's a lot of fun." |
Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. |
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