VIDEO. “I saved seven people from drowning”: a surf instructor warns of the dangers of the ocean

"I was able to bring seven people back safe and sound and unfortunately there are two people who could not be saved," says Stéphane Galissaire, vice-president of the Presqu'île surf club in Cap-Ferret (Gironde). .

While surfing on the beach of Grand Crohot, on May 17, Stéphane saw a dozen swimmers carried away by the current.

The waves could reach up to two meters.

That day, swimming was reported as dangerous and the beach was not supervised.

Read alsoSurfers, guardian angels of swimmers in distress

Without hesitation, the surfer went alone to pick up all the swimmers with a surfboard, not really suitable for first aid.

“A hell of a challenge,” explains Stéphane, who tore his muscles during the perilous operation.

Like him, every year, many surfers intervene with swimmers in distress.

“It's not my job, nor my mission.

But I can't let people drown.

We act without asking questions,” continues Stéphane.

These drownings occur more often out of season when the beaches are not supervised.

To compensate for the lack of rescuers, the French Surfing Federation is organizing itself and is currently setting up a program called “Surfer Sauveur”.

The objective is to make surfers aware of responsible attitudes that can help bring assistance to people in difficulty.