Peter Gabriel supports Vancouver lifeguards in beach debate

Peter Gabriel has spoken out in support of lifeguards at Vancouver beaches as the city considers cutting the number on duty by half. The discussion centers on possible reductions at locations including Trout Lake, Sunset Beach, Third Beach and Spanish Banks. In a Facebook post, Gabriel said a lifeguard helped save him in 1983 when he was windsurfing at Spanish Banks while in Vancouver opening for David Bowie. He said strong winds and a rip tide pulled him away from shore, and lifeguards rescued him so he could still perform that night at BC Place. A former lifeguard also told Global News that the job involves more than watching swimmers, including safety education and responding to hazards on the beach. The Vancouver Park Board had not responded by the reporting deadline.