Grinder challenge tests fitness
We chatted to Grinder Challenge contestant, Dave Leppan to find out what it takes to be one of eThekwini's life saving firemen.
ETHEKWINI fireman, Dave Leppan, one of the participants in last weekend’s KZN Grinder Challenge at Durban’s beachfront amphitheatre believes it is important for firemen to be fit.
Locals watched as firemen from around the province were put through their paces in a physically draining endurance obstacle course.
“The endurance Grinder Challenge course may be designed to fatigue our minds and bodies as fireman but it cannot come close to a real life emergency situation because in the real world we cannot take a break or rest. We have to find the strength of body, mind and heart to push through to save someone’s life,” Leppan said. He added, while the competition was hard, in a real situation, firemen actually had the added boost of adrenaline, which often pushed them past their physical limits.
When dealing with these real emergencies, Leppan said firemen had to “dig deep”and find their “inner strength.” “While the person we are tasked to save might be a complete stranger, we have to give 110 per cent of ourselves because they are not a stranger, they are someone’s mum, sister,wife or father,” he added.
