Hospital worker is crowned Commonwealth champion for lifesaving

Theresa Tomlinson swapped her job as a Moving and Handling Advisor at Lincoln County Hospital to become a Commonwealth champion at the weekend.

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Theresa, who is a former World champion in lifesaving, has added some more gold medals to her collection. She competed in the RLSS Commonwealth Festival of Lifesaving at the John Charles Aquatics Centre in Leeds on Saturday.

After coming first in all of her events; including the wet simulated emergency rescue, dry simulated emergency rescue, 25m swim and 25m tow, 12.5m line throw and the lifesaving medley over 100m, Theresa was crowned the overall Commonwealth champion in the 40-49 years age category.

Not content with her new title, Theresa then chose to compete in the RLSS UK National Lifesaving Championships on Sunday, where she won gold in the 25m line throw, came second in the dry simulated emergency rescue, third in the 100m lifesaving medley and fourth in the wet simulated emergency rescue. Theresa was placed third overall in the over 40’s competition and the East Midlands team she was a part of won the overall silver.

Theresa, who also competes for the Retford and District Lifesaving Club, said: “I am so tired, but really pleased as the Commonwealth was my focus for this year as I have never had the opportunity to compete in this competition before and I have trained really hard for it. It was the medal that was missing from my collection and I don’t know if I’ll get the opportunity to compete in the Commonwealth competition again as it is held all over the world.”

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust Director of Estates and Facilities Paul Boocock said: “A massive well done to Theresa, we are all really proud of her achievements and the dedication she has to have to compete and win at this international level.

“We have so many amazing staff who go above and beyond for their colleagues and patients every day, but to have a Commonwealth champion in our team really is amazing and an inspiration to us all, especially as she was back at work the next day.”