Watch North Myrtle Beach lifeguards jump from end of Cherry Grove Fishing Pier

North Myrtle Beach lifeguards concluded a their training academy last week by jumping off the end of the Cherry Grove Pier.

The lifeguards, both trainees and veterans, took the approximately 25 foot leap to prepare for the possibility of needing to rescue a swimmer in distress this summer.

“The North side of the Cherry Grove Pier, there can be a strong rip current that pulls there, it can pull people straight out to the end of the pier” said Monty Reed, the Beach Patrol Supervisor for the City of North Myrtle Beach. If that happens, the lifeguards have two options. They can swim through the barnacle encrusted pier pilings fending off collisions with their rescue buoys, or they can run to the end of the pier and jump off.

The lifeguards practiced both options on Sunday to get ready for the upcoming beach season.

The Cherry Grove Pier is best known for once being the site of the worlds largest tiger shark catch. The 1,780-pound beast was caught by Walter Maxwell according to pier records and still holds the state record according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Specifically targeting sharks is no longer allowed from any Horry County pier.

Before climbing the rail to make jump Sunday, more than one lifeguard commented about the possibility of sharks waiting below. One guard even wore an electronic device on his ankle that promises to repel the toothy fish. But no sharks were encountered this day and all lifeguards swam safely to the beach to continue training for another busy tourist season on the Grand Strand.