‘They call me Captain Killjoy’: working as a lifeguard in badly behaved Britain

People used to be grateful for our efforts to keep them safe. Now they accuse us of ‘sitting around staring at the water’

I became a lifeguard at a holiday park nine years ago. At first, the responsibility was scary, but over time my confidence grew. It definitely comes with challenges, especially when you see people doing silly and dangerous things. I always joke that when people go on holiday, they leave their brains at home.

Before the pandemic, there was more respect and gratitude for our services. On one occasion, I saw a woman fall and injure her spine, so I held her head still for hours until the ambulance arrived. People were putting suncream on my back and helping me to sip water because I couldn’t move. She made a full recovery and her family came to thank me the next day.