Mayor Turns Lifeguard: Knittelfeld’s Unusual Solution to Staff Shortage at Swimming Pool

2023-07-04 05:46:33

LIFESTYLE

This summer there is a very special lifeguard at the Knittelfeld swimming pool: it is none other than the mayor of Knittelfeld, Harald Bergmann. The background is the lack of staff.

04.07.2023 07.46

Online since today, 7.46 a.m

Harald Bergmann is swapping roles this summer: he was promoted from the mayor of Knittelfeld to the city’s temporary lifeguard. “There were problems with sick leave, and also with finding employees for the swimming pool. And then I said we don’t want to lock the bathroom, and I’ll do it with that,” says Bergmann.

Swimming trunks instead of a suit

The mayor swapped his desk for a swimming pool and his suit for swimming trunks – he gets support from the retired lifeguard Hans Facher: According to Facher, he stepped in to help the mayor and the pool.

The service also begins for the mayor’s lifeguard in the technical room: “A practiced lifeguard can tell by the noise whether everything is working. And then you check whether the water parameters are correct,” says Bergmann.

“Growing into the task well”

And the bathers are also satisfied with lifeguard Bergmann. “He does it confidently. He always stands up there and overlooks the whole area. I have the feeling that he has grown into the task well,” says a guest. And a visitor says she doesn’t know what the mayor’s swimming and rescue skills are like. Bergmann responded: “I did the rescue and recovery years ago, but I have Hans as a backup.”

Bergmann compares his two jobs like this: “Both are funny. Being a lifeguard has been less stressful so far – but you never know what’s coming.”

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