A Janitor Often Mistaken for Baywatch Legend David Hasselhoff Becomes A Local Hero After Saving A Drowning Lady On Gransted Beach And Changes His Career To Life Guarding
Terry Long has always been mistaken for Knight Rider star David Hasselhoff. He would often have comments in his work as local Janitor for Gransted Leisure Centre, that he looks just like the actor. His friends in his local pool and darts team, always put his name down in tournaments as “The Hoff”, a banter and resemblance Terry has always looked upon fondly. Most of all he loves making people smile, and would happily sign autographs for local kids whenever he was mistaken for him.
“It was all just good fun really, and nothing short of good humoured. The children were none the wiser, although I did tell them it would be a great idea if they tell their parents not to flog the autographs on ebay or anything, but just to be sure I would sign them (not THE Hoff) at the bottom! But the strangest thing happened one Sunday when I was relaxing on Gransted beach, I heard a scream in the water…”
With quick thinking and not even a second to question his personal safety, Long sprung into action and was straight in the sea. When he carried the lady to shore, she was not breathing, and he used what he learned training First Aid at the leisure centre to use precision mouth to mouth, lliterally giving her the kiss of life.
According to witnesses, Long’s resemblance to Hasselhoff was uncanny, with several beachgoers mistaking him for the actor during the rescue. Despite the attention, Terry remained humble, stating that he was just doing what anyone would do.
“When the lady came to, she asked if she was dreaming. She said she felt like she was starring in Baywatch. She later expressed disappointment that I was not the real Hoff. Turns out she was an Instagram Influencer that posted all over social media that her life was saved by David Hasselhoff, and got a few thousand insults calling her a liar.”
“I had dressed up as Michael Knight one of the Hoff’s other greatest characters, and would make a few hundred quid a month at parties and pubs. But there was something about the rescue that got me thinking. Maybe I am not the real David Hasselhoff, there’s only one of those, but maybe I could be a real Life Guard. Perhaps I could be more like Mitch Buchanon from Baywatch!”
“So in my spare time, I would practice lifeguarding in swimming pools. I watched youtube videos, read ebooks, and worked on my stamina and swimming strength for 6 months straight. Then I decided to apply with the Gransted Lifeguard Association and try out for the real thing. I spent 3 weeks in Rookie School and now I’m patrolling the beach as a fully qualified Life Guard.”
Long packed in his career as Janitor and took on Life Guarding full time, where so far he has saved over 15 lives, 2 serious cases of drowning, and a boat of 13 drunks that capsized after a local pub did a bottomless beer promotion. Asked if he would ever go back to the leisure centre and clean up after folks, he laughed “You know that was another life! I feel now I can champion the life of the innocent, the helpless. One man can make a difference, and not by cleaning up vomit from changing rooms.”
We wish Terry the very best of luck, although looking at the photos and the affect he seems to be having on the local bikini brigade, we strongly believe he does not need it.
