Bondi Rescue

''Bondi Rescue'' is an Australian factual television program which was originally broadcast on Network 10 between 2006-2021 and will be broadcast on Paramount from 2023. The program follows the daily lives and routines of the Waverley Council professional lifeguards who patrol Bondi Beach.

''Bondi Rescue'' was first broadcast in 2006. A spin-off, set in Bali, Indonesia, also briefly screened in 2008. ''Bondi Rescue'' is also broadcast internationally throughout 100 countries. The show was created and produced by part-time lifeguard Ben Davies in collaboration with Producer Michael Cordell. It is narrated by Osher Günsberg.

On 12 October 2022, it was officially announced on the ''Bondi Rescue'' social media sites that the show will return for season 17 in 2023. It will be the first season to be broadcast on Paramount following the news the show would not return to Network 10.

Overview

The Bondi lifeguards perform around five thousand rescues over the summer period. They also deal with other incidents including lost children, shark scares, bluebottle stings, injuries, sexual deviants, drunk beach goers and thieves on the beach. Every once in a while, celebrities also make appearances on their shores. These have included actors/comedians David Hasselhoff and Kelly Slater (stars of the fictional US lifeguards show ''Baywatch''), Hugh Grant, Zac Efron, Rowan Atkinson, Paris Hilton, Russell Crowe, entrepreneur Richard Branson, American comedian Conan O'Brien (whose appearance was also broadcast in his own show, '' Conan''), musician Snoop Dogg, Steve Irwin and daughter Bindi and the Indian Cricket Team. Bondi veterinarian Chris Brown repeatedly appeared on Bondi beach, meeting lifeguards, in his own show Bondi Vet.

Bondi also has its Annual Lifeguard Ironman Challenge, which tests the skills of each lifeguard which typically consists of a one-kilometre run from Bondi to local beach Tamarama, then a one-kilometre swim to nearby Bronte Beach, followed by a two-kilometre board-paddle back to Bondi. The race is handicapped: the more accomplished swimmers and board-paddlers set off from Bondi later (up to twelve minutes, depending on how many competitors there are).

Footage for the show is shot during the preceding Australian summer (usually between November and February), with certain episodes reflecting incidents that have occurred during Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Australia Day. Noteworthy incidents at nearby Tamarama and Bronte Beaches, which the lifeguards are also responsible for, are occasionally shown. Later seasons also featured footage of lifeguard trials and training exercises from the middle of the year. The training in the middle of the year is a trial to test the fitness, strength and ability of the lifeguards. It consists of an 800-metre swim in under thirteen-and-a-half minutes in a swimming pool, a 600-metre swim surf and two 600-metre runs and on the sand, a 600-metre board paddle, then a set of demanding rescues at Bondi which should be completed in under 25 minutes. It is also a test for trainee lifeguards to show they are able and committed to the role of a lifeguard. If the competitors do not complete the tasks in the time limit, they are eliminated and do not advance to the next test.

Many rescue boards and jet skis have a camera attached for close-up footage. When deemed safe to do so, the cameraman accompanies the lifeguards out to sea and has even had to assist with rescue operations on a number of occasions.

The production company pays Waverley Council $139,000 per year and a percentage of profits to film the program, and the council also holds "review rights" to ensure content is acceptable to their practices.

The lifeguards

Current lifeguards at Bondi beach

*Alexander "Alex" Koops
*Alastair "Tech" King
*Andrew "Reidy" Reid – featured
*Andy Mole
*Anthony "Harries" Carroll – featured
*Anthony "Glick" Glick – featured
*Ben "Quiggers" Quigley – featured
* Bruce "Hoppo" Hopkins (head-lifeguard) – featured and starring
*Chase Hardaker (rookie)
*Chris "Chappo/Chips" Chapman – featured
*Corey Oliver – featured
*Daniel "Beardy" McLaughlin (also carpenter) – featured
*David Skene
*Dylan "Milky" Davis (trainee)
*Eddy Hudson
*Evan Faulks
*Gavin "Bagus" Stevenson – featured
*Harrison "Lionel" Reid – featured
*Jack Curtis
*Jackson Doolan – featured
*Jake Bracken
*Jake Nolan – Featured
*Joel "Loaf" Bevilacqua – featured
*Joel Bolewski – featured
*Josh "dabigman" Burke
*Juliana "Jules" King
*Kailan "KC" Collins (former ironman) – featured
*Lachlan MacIntosh
*Lachlan "Lachie" McArthur
*Liam "Itchy" Taylor
*Lukas "Boo" Street-Wong
*Luke Faddy
*Matthew "Matt H." Hastie
*Mario Marfella – featured
*Max Ayshford – featured
*Max MacGuigan
*Max Milligan – featured
*Noah "Mort" Finnimore (trainee) – featured
*Quinn "Quinno" Darragh (part-time – also paramedic)
* Ryan "Whippet" Clark (former child soap actor) – featured
*Ryan Yerbury – featured (also police officer)
*Sam Fleeting
*TJ Hendy (also Ironman)
*Thomas "Egg/Tommy" Bunting (also chiropractor)
*Trent "Maxi" Maxwell – Featured (also firefighter)
*Trent "Singlets" Falson – featured (also personal fitness trainer)
*Troy "Gonzo" Quinlan – featured
*Tyson McIntosh – featured
*Wally Eggleton – featured
*William "Will/Rhino" Bigelow (former football player)

Former
*Aaron "Azza"/"Azza G" Graham (team leader)
*Adrian "Taco" Kovacic
*Adriel "Bacon" Young
*Andrew "Pine" O'Sullivan
*Beau Day
*Ben "Benny" Davies (producer/surfer)
*Ben Sutherland
*Blake McKeown
*Brad "Mal" Malyon
*Brooke Cassell
*Bobby "Yak" Yaldwyn (also paramedic)
*Chris Emery
*Chris "Thaney" Thane
*Clint "Klipper" Kimmins (also triathlete)
*Colin Thackeray
*Cooper "Coops" Braxton
*Cooper "Coops" Wilson
*Corey Adams
*Craig Carney
*Danny McKell
*Dean "Deano" Gladstone
*Derek Recio
*Des "The Chairman" Burke
*Dunstan "Dunno" Foss
*Greg "Bisho" Bishop (also firefighter)
*Harry "H"/"H-man" Nightingale (retired in 2015)
*Jesse "Kid" Polock
*Jethro "Jeff" James
*John "Johnny" Robson
*Kobi Graham
*Kristian "Yatesy" Yates
*Kyle Pao (exchange lifeguard from Hawaii)
*Luke "Louie" Daniels
*Matt "Burkey" Burke
*Matt Colquhoun
*Matt Dee
*Michael "Mouse"/"Black Cloud"/"Mick" Jenkinson
*Nathan "Anny" Anson
*Nicola Atherton (former pro surfer, current surf instructor)
*Rod "Kerrbox"/"Box" Kerr (team leader, former surf champion)
*Sean Carroll
*Scotty Thomson
*Stuart Morrow
*Steve Vincent (The Don)
*Terry "Tezz" McDermott (died in 2022)
*Temika Wright (exchange trainee)
*Tommy Frazer
*Tom Miller

Vehicles

* Yamaha Rhino 700, ATVYamaha Sponsors Professional Ocean Lifeguards

Surf Life Saving Australia – Circular: Approved Lifesaving Gear & Equipment Update
Surf Life Saving Australia – Circular: August 2008

* Yamaha WaveRunner FX High Output, PWC
* Kracka and Bennet surf rescue board

''Bondi Rescue: Bali''

A nine-part spin-off series, entitled ''Bondi Rescue: Bali'' and set in Bali, Indonesia, premiered on 10 September 2008.Bondi Rescue heads to Bali
/ref> The spin-off followed two months delegations of the Bondi lifeguards (including Dean 'Deano' Gladstone, Andrew 'Reidy' Reid, Ryan 'Whippet' Clark, Chris 'Chappo/Chips' Chapman, Tom 'Egg' Bunting, Matt 'Matty' Dee, Aaron 'Azza' and Kobi Graham and mission chief Terry 'Tezz' McDermott) as they were assigned to a two-month stint at Kuta Beach, dealing with the more humid climate, a much larger beach, an exceptionally strong surf and the absence of the rescue equipment they had back home (even in ambulances), making it the world's most deadly guarded beach: twelve fatalities in an average year.
/ref> They join the hundred strong local life guards, supervised by popular singer Marcello Arayafaya, in an official international exchange program.

The spin-off failed to score ratings, and was cancelled after four episodes. However the whole series was aired and repeated overseas, notably in Flanders.

Reception

''Bondi Rescue'' has proven to be successful for Network 10, averaging 1.31 million viewers during its third season. It won the Logie Awards Most Popular Factual Program in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 and also a nomination for the Most Outstanding Factual Series at the 2010 and 2011 ceremonies. Its success also led to similar series such as the Seven Network's ''Surf Patrol'' and Nine's ''Deadly Surf'' being commissioned.

Logie Awards

Books

The first book written about ''Bondi Rescue'' was by ''Nick Carroll'' and published on 1 November 2009. It was titled ''Out the Back with Bondi Rescue: True Stories Behind the Hit TV Show'' and was about the Bondi lifeguards and took readers 'behind-the-scenes' and showed their 'journeys and the effect this has had on their lives'.

A second book, titled ''Stories From the Bondi Lifeguards'', was published on 1 February 2015 and showed a 'behind-the-scenes' look and memorable stories from the lifeguards on ''Bondi Rescue''. The book was written by a some of the lifeguards who frequented the show.

Trent Maxwell, commonly known as Maxi, published a series of children's books in 2018 about his lifeguarding experiences.

Mobile game

A game based on the show was developed for iPhone and iPad. In the game, the player is a lifeguard who must keep the swimmers between the flags and protect them from hazards.

Series overview

See also

Waverley Council – Lifeguard History Project
an
photos
* Carroll, Nick (2009). ''Out The Back With Bondi Rescue: True Stories Behind the Hit TV Show''. Allen & Unwin.

References

External links

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Production website

{{Network Ten programming

Australian factual television series
Network 10 original programming
Television shows set in Sydney
2006 Australian television series debuts
2000s Australian documentary television series
2010s Australian documentary television series
2020s Australian documentary television series
English-language television shows
Surf lifesaving
Lifesaving in Australia
Bondi, New South Wales