Overcoming waves… to save people

Sea rescue is a special profession, because anyone who comes to this job must go through the challenge of facing the big waves. At Vung Tau beach (HCMC), the coast guard is like a hero, silently protecting the safety of people and tourists when swimming in the sea.

Ensuring safety for tourists

In the middle of the vast waves, suddenly an arm was raised and waving with a loud cry for help. Without hesitation, 2 rescuers jumped out, tearing through the waves and rushed out, another person used a canoe to run to where the drowning victim was struggling in panic. Less than 4 minutes later, the victim was brought to shore safely by canoe. This was one of the situations that happened at sea, where the coast guard had to quickly overcome the waves to save people.

Lifeguards are on duty at the beach to ensure the safety of residents and tourists while swimming. Photo: QUANG VU

Mr. Le Hoang Thanh (44 years old), a lifeguard in Vung Tau, said that the work of a lifeguard starts at 6am, swimming out to sea to plant black flags in areas with whirlpools and dangerous areas, then returning to shore to watch over beachgoers. On weekdays, it is still bearable, but on holidays and Tet, when there are many tourists , lifeguards have to keep a close eye out because just a moment of negligence or carelessness can affect the lives of one or more people.

In over 20 years of working, Le Hoang Thanh has saved countless people. Whenever he hears a cry for help or sees someone struggling, he rushes into the sea. According to Thanh, on Vung Tau beach, life and death happen in a split second, but many people ignore warnings, swim into the whirlpool, and hang on to the black flags. "The place where the flag is planted is a whirlpool, and when it is destroyed, it accidentally creates a trap that causes trouble for those who come later," Thanh said.

Soaking in the water, his face tanned, Mr. Tran Huu Bao Luyen (60 years old) blew his whistle and waved his hand to signal the beachgoers to move closer to the shore, avoiding deep, dangerous water. Seeing a group of guests, including children, going into the sea, Mr. Luyen advised: "You should swim in shallow water, away from the area with the black flag, because there is a whirlpool there, very dangerous, especially you have to watch out for these little children."

With 40 years of experience as a lifeguard, Mr. Luyen knows the ups and downs of the water, where the water is shallow, deep, where there are whirlpools, and where there are strong currents. He has also saved the lives of countless people from drowning. “Every time I save a customer from danger, I am very happy and love my job even more because I find what I do meaningful,” Mr. Luyen shared.

Currently, Vung Tau Coastal Rescue Force has 70 people including rescuers and medics. This force is responsible for being on duty regularly at sea from Nghinh Phong Cape to the border of Paradise beach area, on average there is a rescuer every 200-300m. In addition to reminding on loudspeakers, rescuers also directly remind beachgoers not to go to places with black flags, not to swim too early (before 6am), or too late (after 6pm).

Coast guard forces instruct residents and tourists on swimming skills at Back Beach. Photo: QUANG VU

According to statistics from Vung Tau ward, in just the first 10 months of 2025, Vung Tau beach welcomed and served more than 3 million tourists. Of which, the coast guard rescued 28 people from the clutches of death in the middle of the ocean.

Train your spirit of steel

According to Mr. Nguyen Khac To, Director of Vung Tau Culture - Sports - Tourism Center, Bai Sau beach is wide but fierce. During the monsoon season from November of the previous year to April of the following year, the water flow is strong, the wind blows from offshore, creating large waves that continuously hit the shore, gathering into a current that goes back out to sea. Where there is a current, the whirlpool is a calm area with almost no waves and will sweep away everything that falls into it. Therefore, if tourists fall into this whirlpool without timely rescue, it will be very dangerous.

The work of the rescuers is hard, dangerous, requiring high physical strength and courage, and the ability to withstand the harsh weather and the harshness of the sea. In the summer months, the sun and salt water cause blisters on the skin. In the rainy season, the water is cold and the wind is strong and numbing. “They have to stand for many hours, pay attention to the sea and they must have a spirit of steel when rushing out to save people in the whirlpool of the sea - where their lives can be threatened if they do not have elite skills and a strong spirit,” said Mr. Pham Khac To.

The job of a beach lifeguard requires skill and a strong spirit. In the photo: Beach lifeguards use canoes to remind and protect tourists while swimming. Photo: NGOC GIANG

Therefore, every low tourist season, all rescuers must participate in a rigorous 6-week training course to become elite sea rescuers.

During this training course, rescuers are trained daily with comprehensive physical exercises; running distances from 1,000m to 3,000m, rescue swimming exercises (50m speed) with bare feet to pull victims, rescue swimming (100m) with flippers, test swimming distances from 200m to 3,000m and a final test of the 2,000m swimming distance at sea; training in rescue skills from basic to advanced; practicing skills in using tools and support equipment such as jet skis and kayaks.

Rescuers were awarded the 2,000m sea swimming prize at the closing ceremony of the 2025 water rescue training course in Back Beach (Vung Tau ward, Ho Chi Minh City) on the morning of October 31. Photo: QUANG VU

In particular, the training course spends most of its time practicing rescue techniques to approach victims at sea, pull victims, carry water buckets, first aid, artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, checking pulse, etc.

Through training, rescue forces can increase their physical strength and improve their professional skills in swimming to rescue victims at sea, in on-site resuscitation, and especially improve their enthusiasm for the job, love for the job, and commitment to the profession of water rescue (rescue work, humanitarian work).

QUANG VU

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/vuot-song-cuu-nguoi-post821006.html