Louis Demers watches a team of YMCA lifeguards train on a Sunday night in Quincy.
QUINCY, ILL. -- An 89-year-old lifeguard in Quincy is receiving world-wide attention this week.
Louis Demers has solidified a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the world's oldest active lifeguard. He's spent the last 18 years as as senior lifeguard at the Quincy YMCA but his career in the water began in 1954. He officially made the books last year in March, but the news didn't get back to Demers until now.
"People have been kidding me about that for years, saying, 'well, you must be the oldest one. What are you doing here?' Then I say, ask the people I save. And then they quiet down. I tell you, adrenaline kicks in and you'd be surprised how strong you can get. People say, 'what about this big guy?' And I say it's the adrenaline, a super power. But I manage to save him, so that's what counts," Demers said.
Demers spends his Saturdays watching over swimmers at the Y. He says he doesn't plan to retire any time soon.
When we asked how many lives he's saved, Demers felt like it would be bragging if he gave us the real number, so instead he said, "over 20."
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