Beach surveillance: in the shoes of a Landes lifeguard

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"Your attention, please. Thank you for getting out of the water." This summer, France Télévisions reporters once again tried their hand at the jobs that make up the summer season. Monday, August 18, we headed to the Landes region to discover the daily life of lifeguards. Here, swimming is supervised by around ten lifeguards from the end of May to the end of September. In the morning, our partner, Morgan Millot, is in a hurry. By 11 o'clock sharp, everything has to be ready. "It's the municipal decrees," he explains.

In Messanges (Landes), the beach stretches for 5 km. But swimming is only supervised for 40 m, and that's already a long way. This morning, a yellow flag and high tide bring with it a danger: the waves. "You always have to look at the ocean. Always. Even when you're walking, even when you're behind. We always try to look at the people at the back, in front, the little ones, the old ones," Morgan tells us.

And to make sure you don't miss anything, there's a perched watchtower. Maximum concentration, because in case of negligence, lifeguards risk 3 years in prison and a 45,000 euro fine. "All the people in the water are your responsibility. Anything strange, we'll see it directly. So there, typically, in the edge roller, we'll see everything that's a fall, that is to say, the people who are carried by the wave and who fall," emphasizes our colleague, who tells us that he's not "afraid" because he's far from being alone at the station.

To avoid dozing off, we change stations every hour. It's a "Baywatch" atmosphere on the Atlantic coast. Because of the waves, we try to keep the swimming area in check. This exercise requires muscle. To do this, you need impeccable physical condition, a first aid diploma, and a water rescue certificate. There were no injuries that day.

Morgan, our partner, is paid around €1,500 net per month for 35 hours per week. He receives free accommodation from the town hall. The perks of the position: a summer working environment and a useful and rewarding job. But there's the weather, the heat waves, and the sometimes risky rescues. After these four summer months in the Landes, every year, Morgan returns home to the North, where he's also a lifeguard.

"At the end of the season, you're a bit on your knees, but it's still such a pleasant job. And the human aspect, for me, is super important. It's true that we're always there to help others, and that, frankly, makes sense," assures Morgan.

Like him, 532 lifeguards ensure the safety of holidaymakers in the Landes region. Last summer, they carried out more than 15,000 rescues.