Westville lifesaver gears up for champs

WESTVILLE teen, Milan Edmonds Erasmus, has a passion for sport and for helping those in need. His time with the Durban Surf Life Saving Club has allowed him to meld his two interests into one competitive and highly rewarding activity.

He was introduced to the sport through a friend and has been hooked since his first day. “It is so unique in that it is not just a sport but also provides a service to the community. When you are training you are also making yourself ready to help in a situation you may just find yourself in. I like to think of it as swimming with a twist,” said the Grade 11 learner at Westville Boys’ High School.

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His training regimen consists of daily training sessions, either early morning, later afternoons or both. Even on Sundays, when his friends and peers are resting, he enjoys fitting in an extra training session.

While he is nervous for the World Stillwater Commonwealth Championships this week, he is confident in his abilities and hopes to achieve great results for South Africa. “It is taking place in Durban and this is the first time my family are getting the chance to watch me compete in an international event. It is also the biggest event I have ever competed in,” said the confident teen.

He is a qualified lifeguard and competes in both surf and stillwater events but has specialised in stillwater. This isn’t his first big competition however. He has competed in the World International Rescue Championships where he placed ? for both individual and team races, the World Inter-Club Rescue Championships where he raked in medals for both individual and team-based events, received a bronze medal in the Orange Cup for the 100m tube rescue and a bronze for the 200m obstacle swim.

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“This sport lets me use what I love to do to help those around me. It is like a dream job in a way,” said Milan.

His future plans include studying at the University of Melbourne or the Technical University of Sydney. He aspires to attain a BCom in business marketing as well as BCom in fashion design. “My whole life I have been drawn to fashion and it is a bit of who I am. I like to dress well, analyse what people wear and help others show off their best assets. I am also a business-minded individual and have grown up in a business oriented family. I would like to merge these two interests together and take a spot as a fashion editor for GQ,” said the aspirant 17-year-old.

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