Lewes honors lifeguards

The City of Lewes honored its 2024 lifeguards with an inaugural awards ceremony Aug. 31.

The lifeguards wrapped up their third season protecting Savannah Beach and Johnnie Walker Beach on Labor Day.

The current lifeguard program was founded three years ago by Strohm Edwards, lifeguard captain.

“We’re trying to build a culture, something that everybody comes back to every year,” Edwards said. 

Nathanael Taylor was named Lifeguard of the Year, as voted on by his peers.

Jacob Madden was named Rookie of the Year. He passed a four-week, nine-event test that included swimming, running and push-ups.

Cassidy Thomas, Trax Rogers, Trent Neal and Jasmine Velasquez were also honored as first-year lifeguards.

“You’ve really changed how the beach feels down here and people’s experiences. You reflect the city incredibly well,” said Janet Reeves, assistant city manager and parks and marina manager.

Deputy Mayor Khalil Saliba, and Councilmen Tim Ritzert and Joe Elder were on hand to show their support for a job well done.

“Three years ago, we almost didn’t have lifeguards,” Saliba said. “Strohm and Mark [Woodard] have taken this organization to a very professional, respected group of young men and women doing public service.”

The lifeguards made 57 rescues this summer, as of Aug. 31, Edwards said.

He said one of those rescues involved a large, party inner tube that was floating off Johnnie Walker Beach.

“It had a tarp on the top that was acting like a sail. There were seven or eight people; some were completely intoxicated. People were jumping off, not knowing if they should stay on or not,” Edwards said. “We had to swim some of the victims in because it was too heavy to tow.”

Edwards said several lifeguards helped in that rescue, including his 9-year-old son Mason.

Edwards said they responded to 295 jellyfish stings, which Edwards said was about the same as previous years. He said this was the first year they broke out that statistic.

Edwards thanked city leaders for their support of the program.

For next year, he hopes to increase the number of lifeguards from 16 to 20, and keep guards on the beaches through September, at least on weekends.

Edwards is also planning to have a junior lifeguard program and a competition team in 2025.

“Our goal is that everybody goes home from the beach safe, as long as we’re on it,” Edwards said.