SWIMMERS at the new Splash! leisure complex in Stockton can rest assured they will be in the safest of hands when it opens next month.

Rebekka Teasdale, 22, will not only be making sure that everyone has a safe swim, she has also been selected as a member of an eight-strong team for the Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships, which began yesterday, in Eastbourne.

Rebekka, from Billingham, has been selected to captain an incident team of four. For this, a situation is set up for the team to contend with.

Typically, this could be dealing with some incidents that have already happened and also having to deal with others that are potentially waiting to happen.

The team must cope with the situation calmly and prioritise casualties, as well as rescue and carry out aftercare correctly and effectively.

Rebekka, a keen swimmer for most of her life, has a string of accolades to her name and will be competing in individual as well as team events.

Last year, she won a World Championships Gold Medal in a simulated response competition in Sydney, Australia, became Ladies Individual National Champion at the National Lifesaving Championships and placed first in the Ladies 100m Manekin Rescue and third in the Ladies 100m combined Rescue Medley at the National Speed Championships.

Rebekka said: "My life is in swimming. I learned to swim at the age of four and it just carried on from there.

"I have been a member of Billingham Forum Lifesaving Club for the past 12 years, where I train three times a week.

"I am looking forward to taking up my new post at Splash! where I will be keeping an eagle eye out for any swimmers who may be in difficulties."

The swimming pool is expected to open in mid-June.