In March 2008, Rescue Division Manager Steve Reuter pioneered a water rescue program in Tavarua, Fiji focused toward the Fijian boatmen. The class was sponsored by the Huntington Beach Marine Safety Department and co-instructed by Marine Safety Officer Claude Panis of the HB Marine Safety Division.

The class consisted of nine Fijian boatmen that operate the pongas on the island and run the boats to and from the world famous surf breaks Cloudbreak and Restaurants.

The group participated in a 44 hour class focused on water safety skills such as surfboard rescue, approaching a victim in the water with the ponga, extricating a victim in the water with a cervical injury safely to the boat as well as reach, throw and go techniques.

With a huge amount of educational material and skills to cover the instructors and students alike pushed their way through the high tide of information and shot out the tube with a blast. The graduation for the team and much appreciation for the instruction given was celebrated by an impromptu Kava ceremony officiated by Chief Druku himself.

A special friendship was forged that week between Lifeguard brothers from distant lands. Bonds of similar experiences, sky’s filled with similar stars, a love of the ocean and helping people will hold their memories of this great accomplishment we call Rescue.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009 at 1:10 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.