THE front page of the January 14, 2000, edition of the South Coast Sun carried a photograph of Wade Carson and his mother, Bridgette, taken after he was born on Christmas Day, 1999.

Also read: In the SUN 35 years ago: Winkelspruit or “Winkle-sproot”?

Fast-forward 26 years, and the once tiny newborn is now a grown man, and through his work he keeps the community safe as a firefighter. Both Bridgette and Wade still live in Amanzimtoti, where he works for Fidelity Secure Fire. His mother, who is a trauma specialist, said Wade and his older brother Timothy went to school on The Bluff, and after he matriculated, Wade decided he wanted to do a yachting course, which turned out not to be what his calling was. He then went on to study and qualify as a firefighter.

“Wade loves his double Christmas and birthday presents each year,” said Bridgette.

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