Ryan, 19, grew up in Revesby in south-west Sydney before moving to Bexley when he was 13. His love of the ocean started when he joined the nippers at South Maroubra. Ryan was an active member of the South Maroubra surf club until he was 17, until a passion for Triathlons took over.

This is his first full-time job as a lifeguard, and he has some big shoes to fill as his cousin is seasoned lifeguard Trent “Maxi” Maxwell.

What drew you to lifeguarding?

The opportunity to help people, save lives and have Bondi Beach as my office every day.

What do you love about being a Bondi Lifeguard?

Being a lifeguard is great, but being a lifeguard in Bondi is just a whole different world. It is like a circus in Bondi. There are so many different characters and types of people that add to the excitement.

What is the greatest lesson you have learnt while being a lifeguard?

Never take anything for granted and always cherish the time you have. Life can be taken away so easily and I am just stoked to have this amazing job where I get to work with a bunch of awesome people and have Bondi Beach as my office.

What do you think are the most important characteristics of a lifeguard?

I think the three most important characteristics are teamwork, multi-tasking and friendliness. Teamwork is massive as you are relying on yourself and three, sometimes four, lifeguards to watch up to 20,000 people at the beach. That ratio is more than 5,000 people for each lifeguard. Having each other’s backs in dangerous situations is a must. Multitasking and decision making come together. Finally friendliness is key. Your job as a lifeguard is to make sure everyone has a safe and happy time at the beach.

What do you want to achieve or get out of this season at Bondi?

I just want to get involved with everything and try to learn as much as I can. The more I can experience and the more I see, the better it will be for me in the future.

What is the silliest thing you have seen on Bondi Beach?

I have seen people surf on their board upside down, and having their cosies fall down. The silliest of them all is whenever someone comes to Bondi in a mankini.