Just by me mentioning ‘Baywatch‘ you instantly get a picture in your head of Pamela Anderson running down the beach, in her red bathing suit and boobs bobbing up ‘n down, while she smiles awkwardly clinging to the lifesaver.

Well, this is not what this post is about.  Life saving yes, but slightly different mental picture.  It involves me walking along the pool edge, looking similar to Patrick Star in both skin color and oddly body shape, wearing my somewhat tight blue swimming trunks with a small hole in the crutch area (which I actually wasn’t aware of!?).

I have the daddy look going these days; “small” belly, pale as death himself, ginger beard and tight trunks.  Not the poster icon for next swimsuit edition, but I am apparently carrying the hot daddy look these days, something that I wasn’t even aware even existed.

Apparently women dig this look according to my 20-year-old nephew who mainly sleeps during the day, who now aspires to look more like his “cool” uncle.

Anyway, we had been invited to this amazing family pool party in a wealthy area of New York State called Chappaqua – a name I have seriously difficulties pronouncing without insulting native American Indians.  We weren’t too sure what to expect, but were pretty impressed when we pulled up to the mansion that could easily fit 3 of our house inside.

We approached the back garden and crossed a football sized lawn, to reach the pool area, which had large BBQ area, plenty of seating for 50 people, pool house with small kitchen and a supersized pool.  It was perhaps 40-50 feet long, and ranging from 3 feet to 8 feet deep.  A really nice size pool.

Within 10 minutes of arriving, feeling the sun frying my bacon, my kids happily jumped into the pool with various belt and floating devices – and plenty of sunblock.

Another kid, a 10-11 year old boy, was playing in the pool.  He was mainly jumping on the bottom and he didn’t look like a super confident swimmer.

For some reason, I kept looking at the pool and the kids playing.  Something was bothering me, and it quickly became apparent.  Things escalated within seconds.

The happy and over-confident boy was starting to struggle to reach the bottom, and had difficulties getting back to the low-end.  His mum jumped in to help him, but she was then struggling to reach bottom as well and keep her son above surface.

Without hesitating, I jumped into the pool still wearing my Hawaiian shirt.  I quickly got the boy into my arm, while reach the mother with my right arm – dragging both to safety.

The mother was for obvious reasons very happy that I had saved them both, and gave the boy plenty of hugs … and also a few angry comments about staying at the shallow end.

Several spectators clapped my shoulders for saving them, and I rewarded myself with a cold beer.  The severity of the incident started to hit me and from then on I kept monitoring the pool.

Lesson learned – when having a pool party, with many adults and kids, you should always have a dedicated lifeguard on duty.  It should not be the responsibility of a parent or guest.

I will look after my kids while swimming, but will also keep an eye on other kids, especially after this event.

Do I consider myself a hero - some of the guests called me hero

No, I did what I had to do, and hopefully what any other person would’ve done.  I’m just grateful that nothing happened and that I could help save these people.