DURBAN’S lifeguards are going to be making a splash on the small screen next month.
A 10-episode show based on the daily lives of lifeguards will be broadcast on television in more than 103 countries.
The show, Durban Beach Rescue, which will be broadcast on the Travel Channel, was launched on Wednesday at the Marine Lifesaving Club at Addington Beach.
It was shot in December, the busiest time of the year for lifeguards in Durban, because of the huge holiday crowds.
Show director, Eddie Edwards, said it had been challenging shooting the series when there were so many people on the beaches.
“You had to have eyes like a lifeguard,” he said.
Edwards said this was important as they could not rely on the lifeguards to tell them an incident was in progress, as this might hamper their rescue efforts.
When an incident happened, they often had to use golf buggies to rush to scenes, and if push came to shove, they would run to the scenes. “It was a positive experience,” he said.
It was not only Edwards who had a positive experience.
Lifeguard Power Mnguni said he was happy about being part of the experience. He said the show would also address many misconceptions people have about lifeguards.
“People think we sit and there and do nothing,” said the Lamontville resident.
Mnguni, 26, said Durban Beach Rescue would give an insight into the amount of skill needed to be a lifeguard.
Another lifeguard who enjoyed the experience was Penny Dlamini. “I was excited when I heard about the Beach Rescue stuff,” she she said.
Dlamini, 24, said the best part during filming was when she took the crew on a train ride, and how the crew were entertained by the sermons preachers gave on the trains.
“I can’t wait to tell my parents,” she enthused.
The show’s first night is on Saturday, 4 July at 8pm.
Daily News