Bondi Rescue

- Season 1

(2005)

Eager beaver Andrew Reidy is the new kid in the rescue team on Bondi beach, Australia's most popular sea bathing and mass aquatic sports site. He shows unlimited energy and zeal, even by their high standards. Saving swimmer lives is practically daily routine for them. The colleagues are a bit more relaxed. After a recent white ('Jaws') shark sighting, the boys patrol- and dive among various shark species, including man-eaters.

Christmas (Summer down under): Bondi beach is swarming with swimmers. A cheesy Irish girl 'abuses' a rescue hunk, even insists to go face-to-face on his surf plank. The Nestor hazes 'lazy brat' Reidy ruthlessly, by tradition. Six months earlier, the studs' annual tests on an icy day cost four their dream job. When tourists aren't drowning, they need medical help after a bad fall on the skateboard ring. The shark nets need another checkup.

New year's Eve is the world's greatest beach party, even the lifeguards are also involved. The next day, the hottest New year ever, is their biggest challenge, a back-breaking total of 50 interventions. They range from French tourist Jean's dislocated arm to epidemics of sun burns and OD's. The boys even help the police round up a thieving gang of youths.

On a quiet day, five life guards model for photographers. Only a bit further a Japanse youngster, later identified as English student Taka(hiro) from Tokyo, washes up Bondi without a pols; only after the third, last feasible defibrillation, Taka is revived and hospitalized. Next Australia Day, a time of patriotic fun and for reasons unknown floating devices. The Bondi chief gets to raise the flag at city hall, a rare honor. Various tourists with minor injuries get good care. The boys can't help competing in the gym, especially now their annual competition approaches.

As if 2500 rescues a year weren't challenging enough, the rescuers compete constantly- once a year even in an iron man race, with grueling handicaps up to 12 on circa 30 minutes. An informal competition is the -in principle after hours- dating game, where hot gentleman Greg 'Bisho'(p) excels. Tonight the studs speed-date. Many have another job on rainy days, e.g. fireman.

When the weather is so beach guests stay away, the life guards train superior surfing. Some volunteer to teach kids safe surfing. A wave of poisonous jellyfish causes a flood of petty panickers. A tidal current however is life-threatening can require a grueling rhythm of rescues, up to 30 in a matter of minutes.

During depressing weather, the life guards do their 'housekeeping'. As soon as the surfers ride the waves again, they'll have plenty of wounds to clean, some painfully deep. Especially the locals who excel in the crazy art of diving from sharp rocks, and newbies that wash up against them.

A joker has planted a small shark in the kids pool. The first fatal victim this year is a rescued seagull. Drifters are a drag, but worse are missing divers, sometimes even requiring helicopter assistance. Shift ends at 7PM, but when people stay later the guards can't leave and risk deaths. The cyclone season ends the year on the beach. Now it's nearly empty and officially closed.