Kiwi lifeguards get armed guards in Pakistan

Three West Auckland lifeguards needed armed protection while teaching water safety skills in Pakistan.

The trio: Tim Jago, Oliver Tyack and Nigel Sorenson, are active members of the Muriwai Volunteer Lifeguard Service. They recently returned home after training the 180 lifeguards that patrol Karachi’s 17 beaches.

The Pakistan-New Zealand arrangement was set up in 2003 when Mr Jago attended the Asia Pacific International Life Saving Federation in India. There he met Pakistani businessman Reza Samad, and together they set up Pakistan Aquatic Life Saving (PALS).

In the first year alone, they managed to cut the number of drownings from 250 to 20 by having trained lifeguards patrolling the beaches performing rescues, preventative actions and first aid.

“We give [the Pakistani guards] some basic rescue training, some CPR training, tell them what they need to be looking out for such as identifying rips and holes, identifying people in trouble,” said Mr Jago.

“We also check on standards and do some re-training of the senior guards.”

Recently retired Karachi city commissioner, Shoaib Siddiqui, has credited the programme with saving more than 3500 people over the past decade.

While in Karachi, the three Kiwis stayed with Mr Samad, who provided security guards to accompany them wherever they went.

Despite the political tensions in the region, Mr Tyack, 21, said he would return in a heartbeat if he had the opportunity.

“It’s a different way of life but it was cool to see that no matter where surf life saving is everyone has the same background and this natural love for the sea,” he said.

Mr Tyack, is head lifeguard at Muriwai. It was his first visit to Pakistan, and he said he did not know what to expect.

“Culturally, it is quite different. There are no female lifeguards and they all go swimming in their clothes, they have to be covered up.

“Men and women go into the water wearing long pants and long shirts – luckily the lifeguards break the culture there and swim in just shorts.” But Speedos definitely aren’t allowed, he laughed.

Entering water fully clothed is highly discouraged in New Zealand, as the material becomes much heavier when wet, making swimming a lot harder.

However, being fully clothed is an intrinsic part of Pakistan’s culture, so that was one issue the Kiwis had to work around.

Kiwi rescuers Nigel Sorenson, Oliver Tyack and Tim Jago in red with Karachi Surf Lifeguards. Photo: Supplied / Tim Jago

The Muriwai team teaching their Pakistani counterparts. Photo: Supplied / Tim Jago

This trip, the Muriwai trio also took a container-load of equipment comprising uniforms, second-hand inflatable rescue boats and first aid equipment. The equipment was paid for through fundraising in New Zealand and Pakistan which raised just short of $17,000.

While the New Zealand donations came largely through organisations such as Rotary, the bulk of the money came from a global crowdfunding movement called Fundstak.

• The New Zealand surf life saving season officially starts on Labour weekend.

John-Michael Swannix is a senior surf lifeguard at Whangārei Heads Volunteer Surf Life Saving Patrol. He also works at Surf Life Saving Northern Region as a surf communications (Surfcom) operator.