Brendon finds pride and dignity in saving lives

Saving lives, training people to swim and providing a valuable service to the community, Brendon Govender is finding it easy to be proud of his job.

Coming from a strong competitive swimming background, the step towards becoming a lifeguard seemed natural. “I am a good swimmer. I decided to use that skill to my advantage, and to the advantage of others,” he said.

Brendon follows a rigorous training regime and diet. He belongs to a fitness club, and swims and gyms every day. “I try to cut out fizzy drinks and fatty foods. I’m a big guy,” he laughed. “I have to keep on top of my game.”

He started his career as a lifeguard in 2010, and has enjoyed every moment. “It’s a challenge, but I enjoy it. We train hard and we work hard, but we are proud of what we do.”

Asked about the best way to prevent an accident at a pool, Brendon explained more about the techniques they use to scan the crowds of patrons for misbehaviour, distress signals and any other irregularities.

“It might seem strange, but sometimes there are actually people who come to a swimming pool who cannot swim. We scan the patrons and eliminate hazardous situations,” he said. “Why force yourself to rush to save a life, when you can prevent the incident from taking place?” he asked.

Brendon said that the career of a lifeguard came with honour, pride and dignity, and that he became a lifeguard to help others.

He is constantly striving to advance in his career by teaching, saving lives and training diligently.

“You gain a lot of respect from the public. When you tell people that you are a lifeguard, they immediately find it intriguing,” he said. “We are here to keep swimmers safe who come to the public pools. It’s nice to know that people trust us to keep them safe,” he concluded.