CAPE TOWN-Two local firefighters scooped top honours at the Toughest Firefighter Alive competition this year.
The event was held in George on Thursday 9 October and Saturday 11 October and organised by the Firefighters For Excellence group.
The pair, Nomvyiuseko Lungile and Clint Fredericks, were among the winners of the competition.
Lungile won gold in the women’s relay while Fredericks achieved silver in the men’s open relay category.
More than 250 firefighters and 44 relay teams from across the country participated, including teams from Botswana and Namibia.
The competition tests firefighters’ mental and physical fitness, and simulates firefighting scenarios, the City said.
People’s Post spoke with Lungile and Fredericks to share their journey that shaped their careers in firefighting.
Lungile from Simonstown said she was born and raised in a remote village called Peddie in the Eastern Cape.
“Growing up, I always admired the assistance the community would receive from fire fighters in difficult and challenging times. The firefighters always showed great teamwork, dedication and were always committed to serving the community. I was always motivated and in awe of their work.”
The spark that lit her passion for firefighting occurred when she witnessed a local house fire as a teenager.
“The firefighters’ bravery and teamwork left a strong impression on me. I completed my studies at Epping Training Academy in Cape Town.”
She said this year the competition was more intense compared to last year. “The challenges were tougher and the team came well prepared. There was a lot more emphasis on fitness. The most exciting part was working as a team under pressure. It reminded me why I love this profession. The most challenging part was maintaining focus and endurance throughout the activities.”
Fredericks, who resides in Kommetjie Road, was born and raised in Strandfontein in a family of six, comprising his parents and three brothers.
He was also a gifted footballer and played for various clubs before discovering his love for firefighting.
“After high school I decided to pursue football professionally and went on to play for Ubuntu Cape Town and Jomo Cosmos. This career was short-lived due to numerous injuries. This was an extremely difficult period in my life as it was a massive transition. I now had to find a career other than football so soon. This is when I found firefighting. It’s the fact that we are seen as role-models who are actively involved in communities educating young and old about fire safety and prevention. Secondly, the teamwork and camaraderie. Firefighting is a team-oriented profession that requires trust, communication and cooperation between team members.”
Fredericks described this year’s Toughest Firefighter Alive as fun and very competitive.
“It’s always great seeing people coming together to showcase their athletic ability and mental toughness to get through these very difficult and exhausting challenges. What was different this year is that last year I came off fresh from knee surgery, and I did not have time to build the strength and fitness required to be competitive in the competition.”
He said he looked forward to competing next year.
Baigum Abrahams retained her title as the Toughest Female Firefighter Alive for the third year running this year.
