Jurgen Williams recently became the toughest firefighter in the over-40 category at the South African Toughest Firefighter Alive Challenge 2022 in Mossel Bay. This is according to Kenny Alberts, the Stellenbosch municipal fire brigade station commander. PHOTO: Jamie Venter
A group of firefighters from the Stellenbosch Fire and Rescue Department recently competed at the 2022 South African Toughest Firefighter Alive Challenge in Mossel Bay, where one member placed first in his division.
“We train to keep fit but we try to do extra training for the competition as well,” said Williams.
This is according to Kenny Alberts, the Stellenbosch municipal fire brigade station commander, who commended the performance of Jurgen Williams, a Stellenbosch firefighter who competed in, and won, the over-40 category. At the time of publication official overall results had not been shared with MatieMedia yet.
“The Toughest Firefighter Alive competition is the ultimate test of strength, resilience and ‘toughness’,” said John Hartley, the executive director of World Firefighters Games, an organisation which supports local and national events like this competition.
The competition took place from 16 to 17 September.
The Stellenbosch team included Alberts, Martin van Wyk, Rohan Brandt, Jurgen Williams, Marc Rodgers, Ruan Opperman, Yaseen Jacobs, Asiwe Biswapi and Wandisile Ngece. They competed against 175 firefighters, according to the event’s Facebook page.
“Some of the guys are taken away in ambulances [during the event],” said Williams. This is as a result of dehydration and exhaustion that can result from the physical toll of the event, he added.
“I have competed every year since 2014 and, after my third time, I actually ended up in hospital for a week due to dehydration,” he stated.
Members of the Stellenbosch Fire and Rescue Department recently competed at the 2022 South African Toughest Firefighter Alive Challenge in Mossel Bay. This is according to Kenny Alberts, the Stellenbosch municipal fire brigade station commander. Pictured left to right are firefighters who completed the challenge: Jurgen Williams, Alberts and Marc Rodgers. PHOTO: Jamie Venter
The going gets tough
“The challenge is an opportunity to compete against firefighters from all over South Africa and see if we are at the same level,” said Alberts.
The challenge is made up of four stages that must each be completed in under five minutes while fully dressed in firefighting gear, including boots, helmet and breathing apparatus, explained Alberts.
“That is around twenty kilograms of added weight,” he stated.
Each stage simulates situations that firefighters encounter on a normal day, he explained.
“The Toughest Firefighter Alive competition is the ultimate test of strength, resilience and ‘toughness’,” said John Hartley, the executive director of World Firefighters Games.
The competition has four stages: The first two incorporate running hoses, hammering a weighted block and dragging an 80kg dummy, explained Kenny Alberts, the Stellenbosch municipal fire brigade station commander.
“The other two stages do change depending on where the competition is held. Sometimes we run up flights of steps, but there are no tall buildings in Mossel Bay,” he added. Supplied/Marc Rodgers
The first stage requires competitors to run six hoses out, run back and then roll two more hoses up, each about 30m in length, explained Alberts. “This stage is [similar to a situation] when you get a call that there is a fire – you need to run your hoses,” said Marc Rodgers, another firefighter on the team.
“Stage two is the toughest,” said Alberts. “This is where most of the people don’t make it.”
The second challenge simulates “forcible entry through a door and the dummy drag is like rescuing a person”, said Rodgers.
Competition for camaraderie
“The support and the way everyone came together was overwhelming for me,” said Marc Rodgers, a Stellenbosch firefighter who recently competed in the 2022 South African Toughest Firefighter Alive Challenge in Mossel Bay.
For the firefighters in attendance, it is a bonding experience, explained Rogers. The members of the Stellenbosch team who took part in the competition are pictured from left to right: Martin van Wyk, Rohan Brandt, Jurgen Williams, Kenny Alberts, Rodgers, Ruan Opperman, Yaseen Jacobs, Asiwe Biswapi and Wandisile Ngece. Supplied/Marc Rodgers
“It’s not about the competition,” said Alberts. “It’s about the camaraderie between different stations from across the country”.
Everyone cheers for their competitors as well as their teammates, said Williams.
“Your competitors will finish before you and walk back to cheer you,” added Alberts.
“The support and the way everyone came together was overwhelming for me,” said Rodgers. For the firefighters in attendance, it is a bonding experience, he explained.