By Belinda Nolan
HE MAY save lives for a living, but Aaron Holman insists he is no hero.
The 22-year-old has been a lifeguard at the St Albans Leisure Centre for the past five years and is a handy man to have in a sticky situation.
Having lived in Brimbank his whole life, the Taylors Lakes resident knows his community like the back of his hand.
And he’s done it proud.
The lifesaver opened up to Star this week as we launch a new series – Pride in Brimbank – which features the remarkable stories of the everyday residents who are passionate about the city they call home.
As a lifesaver, Aaron’s life revolves around protecting others.
He is only too aware that a split second is all it takes for a situation to turn deadly.
It is a lesson that he has learned the nail biting way.
In February last year, Aaron was among a team of three lifeguards that saved the life of a 16-year-old boy who almost drowned during a school excursion at the Leisure Centre.
The trio managed to resuscitate the teenager, keeping him alive until ambulance crews arrived.
“It was a pretty intense moment but all that was going through my head was ‘what do I do now and who do I call,” Aaron said.
“You sort of go into auto pilot and automatically start going through the drills you have practised so many times.
“And luckily they paid off.
“It was a wonderful feeling when the student was back at school.
“Just knowing that you’ve saved someone’s life is one of the most rewarding feelings you can imagine.”
Their heroic actions earned them the praise of Ambulance Victoria officers, who nominated them for a bravery award.
Aaron also recently received a Brimbank Employee Award from the council for his service to the community.
Despite his heroism, the humble lifesaver insists he is no hero. “It’s nice to be recognised but I don’t do what I do for praise.
“I don’t want to have a hero status, I see myself as being there for people in the community when they need it.”
A proud Brimbank resident, Aaron has dedicated his life to serve his community and said he couldn’t imagine a life that did not include pitching in to help others.
“The thing that I love about Brimbank is the people,” Aaron said.
“I meet a lot of people in my line of work and everybody is really friendly.
“It’s such a diverse place that at the moment it’s hard for me to imagine being anywhere else.”
