Durban Beach Rescue

The beach season is beginning in Durban, the clock is ticking, and the lifeguards are on high alert.

Rookie lifeguards battle it out for a place on the team, and a fisherman is swept out to sea.

Hot weather, holiday crowds and dangerous riptides are set to wreak havoc on the beachfront.

It is sink or swim when lifeguard Sue comes face to face with capacity crowds on Wedge Beach.

A night-time bather goes missing and the lifeguards tend to an incapacitated youth.

There's blood, sweat and tears as bathers are attacked by the stinging Portuguese men-of-war jellyfish, or `blue bottles'.

A shark sighting causes panic on the beaches. The lifeguards are desperate to resolve the shark problem, due to the next day being Christmas. Without any rescue equipment, Cameron initiates a daring rescue.

It's the first day on the job at The Wedge and lifeguard Sue goes up against the elements and an unruly mob.

A child goes missing and the lifeguards go on the hunt for an elusive crocodile.

An early New Year's beach celebration gets out of hand and seasonal lifeguard Tammy is called in for emergency backup.

An estimated crowd of half a million people will celebrate the New Year on Durban beaches. With the combination of turbulent seas and capacity crowds, the lifeguards are on edge.

It's spring tide at Durban's dangerous Hole in The Wall beach and a dramatic rescue unfolds.