Jimmy Canale and Tom Thayer |
SAN DIEGO—
Jimmy Canale and Tom Thayer are retiring after more than three decades watching the waters and saving lives.The pair have a combined 66 years on the job and say they are leaving to avoid losing city retirement benefits, which are about to change. They say the farewell is bittersweet.
"To be pounding the sand every day is truly the luck of the draw. Athletes last a very short time, and what we are required to do every year for 30 years is quite a miracle," Canale said.
Canale and Thayer say they have experienced countless miracles during their careers.
"Anything can happen at any time. We did CPR for seven minutes on this one man. When we looked he was flatlined -- no pulse nothing. Then we shocked him, and the second time, he came back and says 'Hi, Jimmy.' I was scared to death," Canale said.
"It's a very rewarding experience when you snatch someone from the jaws of death, because things get a little dicey sometimes," Thayer added."
At 53 years old, Canale still has what it takes. During our interview, the veteran reacted quickly to save young girl calling for help.
Over the years, both lifeguards have watched the beach go from, "La Jolla Snores" to "La Jolla Swarms."
"The beaches are so populated," Canales said.
"Now people are trying to make a buck off kayaking, surfing, diving," Thayer added.
They have also seen public safety transform. Both men say the equipment is better, there is better communication and more lifeguards patrol the beaches.
As they approach the next chapter in life, Canale says he plans on teaching junior lifeguards. Thayer says he will spend more time with his family and continue hanging out at the beach. Still it's the community, in and out of the water, they say, they will miss the most.
