Name: Daniel McLaughlin

Nickname: Beardy

Birthday: 23 October

Starsign: Libra

How long have you been a lifeguard?  9 years.

Have you always wanted to be a lifeguard? No. Since I was young, I've loved cars, and my dad was a mechanic so I decided to follow him a be a motor mechanic

Where did you work before Bondi, and what made you choose Bondi? I followed my dream and become a motor mechanic. I grew up surfing around the area (mainly Bronte) and sooner or later, most local boys had joined the lifeguards. So I tried out and am now working with my friends every day.
 
What's the funniest thing that you've seen on the beach? One of the boys going over the handle bars of the jetski.

What's the most intense rescue you've been a part of?  I was working at Bronte when someone jumped off the rocks and was washed away to Tamarama. I then had to jump off the point in Bronte and battle the swell as I swum him back to shore. The whole rescue took about 25 minutes.

What advice do you have for anyone wanting to become a lifeguard?  I think knowledge about the ocean and being able to surf is priceless. I think you can teach a waterman first aid, but it's hard to gain confidence and surfing abilities at a later age.

Have you ever been scared for your life?  Not at work, but I once broke my back surfing and couldn't move momentarily. I thought I was going to drown.

What's the greatest lesson you've learnt while being a lifeguard?  Great communication is a necessity.

What do you think are the most important characteristics of a lifeguard?  I think you need to be understanding, caring, "thick-skinned" and mentally tough.

What's the hardest part about your job? Standing in the sun for nine hours, six days a week.

A situation can turn from fun-and-games to life-and-death in a heartbeat. Does this keep your adrenaline rushing all the time?  Our adrenaline is definitely pumping during these times.

What's it like when there is an emergency? Fast.

What kind of dumb things do you see people doing?  People who jump into the water head first, and others who get into the water without knowing how to swim.

Have you ever had to revive anyone? Yes, six people. Only five survived.

If you had one piece of advice for someone wanting to swim at Bondi, what would it be?  To swim between the flags.

Is lifeguarding the only way you keep fit? Lifeguarding keeps us pretty fit, but going for a run also helps!

What was your first rescue like? Pretty scary.

What do you do during the non-summer period? Are you still patrolling the beach or do you have another job? In the off-season, I'm a carpenter and try to make a trip to Bali.
 
Do the cameras put more pressure on you while you're performing a rescue? For sure, it keeps you on your toes. 

Have women ever claimed to be in danger, just to have a handsome lifeguard save them? Yes, it does happen, but in my experience it's never a six-foot blonde!