Tag: lifeguard

Lifeguard rescues dog at Hilton Head beach

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Black rescue dog wearing harness beside rescue equipment on beach

A Hilton Head Island lifeguard saved a beach-goer’s dog Thursday morning. Lifeguard Otávio Cunha from Hilton Head’s Shore Beach Service swam 60 yards to rescue the K-9, according to a Facebook post from the organization. The unfortunate dog swam after a flock of birds near the Alder Lane beach access, according to the post. Shore Beach Service captioned the post “Rescue of the Day” in honor of Cunha’s heroic actions. When Cunha wrapped one arm around the dog and pulled it ashore, the dog was tired and allowed itself to be rescued without a struggle, he said. Shore Beach Service’s lifeguards are a common sight on Hilton Head’s beaches, but you may not know much about them. Cunha is one of 80 lifeguards the service employs each year to keep residents and visitors safe on Hilton Head’s shores.

Lifeguards patrol around 13 and a half miles of Hilton Head beach each day. The service uses 10 red pick-up trucks to patrol, emblazoned with the service’s logo on its doors. Lifeguards also observe beaches from high-top chairs along the beach and from under umbrellas. The lifeguards are certified in CPR and first aid, and rigorously trained in weekly sessions. Lifeguards are hired from across the country and around the world. The service has previously employed lifeguards from 22 different countries including Sweden, Brazil, Poland, Egypt, Canada and more. Cunha himself is from Brazil and is a college swimming athlete at Lewis University in Illinois, Cunha said. The majority of lifeguards are college students or graduates, and work six days a week. 65 lifeguards are on duty now as some have returned to school, Patrol Director Mike Wagner said.

This is Cunha’s first year as a Hilton Head lifeguard. Lifeguards perform around 30 rescues per year, Wagner said. Most action taken is preventative, such as stopping swimmers from venturing too far, he said. Dog rescue is not something the service’s lifeguards train for, Wagner said, but it’s happened before. “They’re pretty used to jumping in on unusual situations,” Wagner said.

Source: Lifeguard rescues dog at Hilton Head beach | Hilton Head Island Packet

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