Saugeen Shores Lifesaving Club lifeguards rescued a swimmer off the pier at Port Elgin Main Beach August 13.

Hub Staff

The competition got real when the Saugeen Shores Lifesaving Club lifeguards monitoring the Provincial Lifesaving Championships at Port Elgin Main Beach rescued a distressed swimmer who had jumped off the pier shortly before 1 p.m. August 13, reminding everyone why the sport is an important one.

Saugeen Shores Aquatic Supervisor Shanna Reid said that the senior members were stationed in the water on a Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliay vessel monitoring the athletes who were competing in the four day competition that kicked off August 12.

“In between one of the races it was noticed that somebody was having difficulty off of the pier at Port Elgin Main Beach. The [vessel] responded immediately. We coordinated communication from land, the lifeguard that was onboard jumped in and rescued a 16 year old male victim and it was a successful rescue,” said Reid, adding that the male was brought to a first aid tent that had been set up for the four day competition where a victim assessment was conducted, then he was transported to the Southampton hospital by ambulance.

Reid went on to say that the whole rationale behind the lifesaving sport is to “get trained and to be able to swim within the limits.”

Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel stationed at Port Elgin Main Beach August 13.

Editor's Note: A previous version of the article stated that the lifeguards were stationed on a Saugeen Shores Fire Rescue boat. They were in fact stationed on a Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel. The article has been amended.