A YOUNG man who saved the life of a toddler on Monday has insisted he was just doing his job.
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However, 19-year-old Justin Armstrong said the experience was an opportunity to reiterate just how important it is to watch young children around the water, saying this was the fourth time as a lifeguard he had jumped in to help a child.
“It shows how quickly things can change, it definitely shows you that a split second is all it takes,” he said.
“Some people really don’t understand – it’s just one quick second and they are under.
“As a lifeguard, it sounds silly but you are guarding life and I am always extra careful because I know how important kids are to parents, they are their everything and it does make me a little bit extra cautious,” he said.
“I can understand as a person stepping back how quickly things can change and how much a child can change your life.
“You can’t replace a child.
“I don’t see myself as a hero – I’m just a person who works as a lifeguard and I did what I had to do as anyone would, it’s a child.
“Lifeguards are there as a safety feature, but we can’t babysit every kid so we try to reinforce that parents really need to watch their kids all the time, because we have to look after everyone in the centre.”
Mr Armstrong jumped in to help the young boy on Monday after he saw him face-down flailing in the water.
“I guess he couldn’t get himself back up and I just sprinted over and jumped in the water and picked him up,” he said. “To be honest I can’t remember most of it, the boy was fine just coughing and crying a bit and his Mum was grateful. It wasn’t her fault she only looked away for a second and it was pretty scary for her.”
“This is the fourth time I’ve seen this happen and the head lifeguard Tim says he has done 20 odd rescues like this – you don’t know what days it’s going to happen really. I was surprised when I saw someone posted a thumbs up about it, because it’s just my job to do this if something happens that’s what I am here for, but it was nice of them.”