Domestic, foreign lifeguards join Da Nang int’l sea rescue competition

The contest was part of the central city’s efforts to enhance coastal safety and professional rescue capabilities as the city enters its peak travel period.

The annual competition serves as a professional platform for exchange and cooperation among lifeguard forces worldwide.

This year’s edition, themed ‘A Vibrant Summer,’ attracted 14 teams, including six domestic units and eight international teams from Australia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore, reflecting growing regional interest in coastal safety collaboration.

Competitors were tested in both physical endurance and professional lifesaving skills.

The physical category included mixed relay swimming, beach sprinting, team wave-crossing challenges, and flag snatching.

Professional skill events featured rescue board throwing, victim relay rescue, buoy-assisted rescue, and surfboard-based lifeguard operations.

One of the highlights of this year’s competition was the design of events that closely simulated real sea conditions, requiring rapid response, precise judgment, and strong teamwork under pressure.

The participation of international teams not only intensified competition but also created opportunities for Vietnamese lifeguards to learn modern rescue techniques and share operational experiences with foreign counterparts.

The competition also featured a traditional basket boat rowing event.

A basket boat is a distinctive craft used by fishermen in central Vietnam.

This activity not only demonstrated practical rescue applications in specific sea conditions, but also spread local maritime culture.

Nguyen Duc Vu, head of the management board, said that beach rescue operations play a key role in ensuring public safety, especially as tourist arrivals continue to increase.

He emphasized that without a professional and well-trained rescue force, the risk of drowning incidents would rise significantly.

Maintaining the annual competition is meant to strengthen skills, coordination and readiness in real-world conditions.

“I have a lifelong connection in a lifeguarding environment, so I do like the competition,” said Australian lifeguard Mariah Jones.

“I’m impressed by the hospitality of Da Nang’s people.

“What I admire most is how strictly Vietnamese lifeguards ensure that swimmers stay within designated safe zones. That’s a striking difference compared to lifeguard practices in other countries,” Jones shared.

The competition is seen as a practical assessment of lifesaving capacity, contributing to improved safety for both residents and tourists during Da Nang’s busiest beach travel season, according to the organizer.