Meet the Lifeguards

For the second summer in a row, Cape Hatteras National Seashore contracted lifeguard operations to Duck Surf Rescue, which will be sending two guards to serve the Lifeguard Beach on Ocracoke every week. Last week, Ocracoke was temporarily home to guards Ryan Nickel and Will Thomas.

Even though the lifeguards work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, Ryan and Will say that life on Ocracoke comes at a new, slower pace.

“It’s kind of like a vacation from your summer job,” Ryan explained. “You can get away from the usual schedule of Duck.”

That schedule involves more than 50 guards manning eight stands in Duck, four in Southern Shores, and up to six regular all-terrain vehicles. Duck Surf Rescue also sends a new pair of those 50-plus guards to Cape Hatteras National Park sites on Ocracoke, Buxton, and Coquina Beach each week.

In Duck and Southern Shores the lifeguards work one person to each stand, but on Ocracoke the two guards work together, something Will thinks is an advantage.

“It’s nice having two people on the stand,” Will said. “If you need a break, you don’t have to worry about waiting on an ATV or someone to come; you can just have the other guard watch the water while you do what you need to do.”

Ryan and Will are both college students working as lifeguards for their summer jobs. This is Ryan’s second season with Duck Surf Rescue and Will’s third, but both have been guarding for seven years. After all those years, what are their favorite parts of lifeguarding? 

“The girls,” Will joked. “But seriously, number one is just keeping the people safe.”

 “Number two is getting their numbers.” Ryan added.

Jokes aside, both agree that having a lifeguarded beach is important for Ocracoke.

“Having lifeguards makes people feel safe,” Will said. “People come down with families and children. Lifeguards give them a lot more comfort.”

“It puts visitors at ease knowing that there are people who are specifically hired to watch over their lives,” Ryan explained. “Especially when you have open water like the ocean.”

When they were off the beach, Ryan and Will said they spent most of their week on Ocracoke exploring the island. 

“You feel like once you’re off work you can slow down,” Ryan said.

“You get to see some new scenery,” Will added.

Will especially enjoys getting to know the island because of a certain family connection.

“My dad used to do bomb runs around here when he was in flight school,” Will said. “He knows a lot about the island because he used to fly by it all the time.”

After seeing the sights, both guards agree: after a long day there is nothing as good as sitting back and watching an Ocracoke sunset.

“It’s always a great little view at the end of the day when we get off work,” Will said.

Before they left for Duck, I had to get the lifeguards’ advice about one more thing: rip currents.

“If you’re worried about currents, come talk to the lifeguards,” Will said. “Ask them if there’s a high risk of a rip current.”

Lifeguards are a valuable source of information about swimming conditions, water safety, rip currents, and more, so if you have any concerns be sure to find them on the stand at the Lifeguard Beach.

For more information about swimming safety and rip currents, visit: oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/ripcurrent.html

"Meet the Lifeguards" will be a regular feature on the Current, so we can get to know the many guards that Duck Surf Rescue sends our way.