Holger Weiske, a 70-year-old retired teacher, is being honored for his 50 years of service as a volunteer lifeguard on the Baltic Sea coast in Binz, located on the island of Rügen. Since 1975, Weiske has served with the German Life Saving Association (DLRG), maintaining a watchful eye over the beach during the pre- and post-seasons.
Weiske’s tenure spans significant political shifts, having served during the era of the German Democratic Republic (GDR). During that time, strict regulations were in place to prevent citizens from fleeing the country via the water, which included bans on boats and even air mattresses in certain zones.
Throughout his five decades of service, Weiske has experienced both tragedy and remarkable natural encounters. He has witnessed several fatal accidents where help could not arrive in time, but he also recalls a memorable event from August 1978 when a whale, nicknamed ‘Ossi’, visited the coast for two days and interacted closely with his rescue boat.
Entities
Binz · Deutsche Lebens-Rettungs-Gesellschaft · Holger Weiske · Rügen