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It’s pretty cool when you can make a living saving people and doing the sport you love. Long hot sunny days spent patrolling the beaches, doesn’t sound too bad to me!
AUT University paramedic graduate Jessica Costello has escaped wintry New Zealand for the sunny shores of England, on a four-month exchange with the Royal National Lifeboat Institute.
We decided to find out what it’s like to be a real life lifesaver and what it takes to turn it into a career... Name: Jess Costello Age: 22 Sport: Lifeguarding Where from: Mangawhai/ Waipu/ West Coast South Island represent Day Job: Lifeguard
Achievements: Volunteer for 10 years, paid lifeguarding for six seasons. AFS school exchange to Panama, BHSc in Paramedics, Cornwall exchange. As well as belonging to an amazing family and group of friends.
What are five things that New Zealand should know about you (additional to the basics)? I love learning about native trees, I have always wished I could be a ball boy for the All Blacks. I currently can’t see out of one eye because I crashed my BMX and have 10 stitches in my face.
How did you get involved in your sport? I was a nipper for a while then started at the Mangawhai Heads Surf Club when I was 12. It has grown from there ever since.
What’s been your a highlight to date? In lifeguarding it would be being part of an epic club. Mangawhai is the s*%!.
What sort of training do you do? At the moment I’m biking around on my BMX, swimming, surfing, board paddling and boxing. What are some of your goals for the future? Become a homeopath, work in disaster relief. Be the president of the Mangawhai Surf Club! Be really good at flax weaving.
How are you, as an nzgirl taking it to the world? By representing Aotearoa styles. I have a she’ll be right attitude and basically I’m a proud kiwi.
How would other nzgirls go about following in your footsteps? I know everyone cares about what other people think but sometimes you just have to stop and think bugger it, who really cares and just go for it.
What do you do for fun? Hang out with mates and family, surf, read, go out, fishing.
What songs are getting big play on your iPod/Discman at the moment? All New Zealand music, throw in some funk and 60s and 70s and that’s me. Anything I can dance or sing to.
What gets you out of bed in the morning? The sun and there is something to always look forward to in the day.
Which superhero personifies you? Captain Planet
And a final message for nzgirls? There is an entire world out there so just go for it and always remember your roots. Gemma
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It’s pretty cool when you can make a living saving people and doing the sport you love. Long hot sunny days spent patrolling the beaches, doesn’t sound too bad to me!
What are five things that New Zealand should know about you (additional to the basics)? 
What songs are getting big play on your iPod/Discman at the moment?