MGPPS rescuer spoke about his work

“Dear vacationers and visitors to the park, we remind you that it is forbidden to swim in the waters of the Moskva River, it is life-threatening” – with such an appeal over the speakerphone to a company of people on the pier, our joint patrol on a boat with Roman Kuznetsov, a search rescue diver – rescue station “Maryino”.

Before getting a job in IGFSS – The Moscow City Search and Rescue Service on water bodies, Roman, at the age of 28, has already managed to dive into the depths of the Black Sea and go on voyages on merchant ships along the smooth surface of the Mediterranean.

“To be honest, I didn’t dream of working as a rescuer or a diver,” Roman smiles, “but this job seems to have found me.”

Since childhood, the lifeguard has been very fond of water.

“It didn’t matter to me whether it was a pond, a river or the sea. The main thing is the water, where I could dive and swim to my heart’s content, and therefore my passion for the Young Sailor Club in the 5th grade was quite logical for my parents. My answers in high school to the questions “Where will you go to study later?” were also expected for them, ”recalls the diver.

After graduating from the College of the Academy of Water Transport, Roman Kuznetsov worked as a specialist in navigation and at the same time studied as a diver, then served in the army.

Then the future rescuer was far from the big water, and he did not have to use the skills gained during training in diving. They were needed much later.

In 2016, Roman Kuznetsov, as part of a diving group, took part in the construction of the Crimean Bridge.

“Our group was engaged in the survey and clearing of the soil in places where later piles were driven in for bearing supports. First, the bottom was checked from the boat with equipment, and if something was found, we, the divers, went down. Diving has always been very interesting and exciting. Armed with probes and metal detectors, we often found ship gear and remnants of guns from the Great Patriotic War, and sometimes found artifacts from earlier periods, such as fragments of ancient amphoras. We handed over all the finds to the archaeologists who worked with us, and now the collections of museums in the Crimea and the Krasnodar Territory contain exhibits found by our group,” Roman shares.

When the construction of the bridge was completed, Roman decided to continue his studies and entered the St. Petersburg Academy of Water Transport for navigation. He got a job as a sailor cadet on a merchant ship, went on long voyages in the Mediterranean. During his work he rose to the rank of captain’s officer on duty.

“It was interesting to sail on large ships, but it was very difficult, especially for my relatives. Therefore, having received a diploma of higher education in 2021, I returned to Moscow and began to look for a job, so that I could have swimming facilities, and dives, and my relatives would not be upset, ”says an employee of the Maryino search and rescue station.

When Roman Kuznetsov found out about the Moscow City Search and Rescue Service at water bodies, he submitted documents without hesitation.

Now Roman works at the Maryino search and rescue station in the Kapotnya area. This is one of the new stations in the capital. The opening day of the unit coincided with the first duty shift of the lifeguard.

“We have a great team of true professionals. Working here is interesting, but not easy: we are responsible for a large section of the Moscow River. In our exit zone there is a hydroelectric complex, three bridges and equipped embankments with recreation areas stretching for about 3 kilometers in two districts at once: the Southern and the South-Eastern. I come to work always happy. I go out on patrols, communicate with people, make diving descents and drive small boats – in a word, I do everything that I studied and that is close to my spirit, ”says an employee of the MSFSS.

Recently, Roman Kuznetsov, as a member of the Moscow City Water Search and Rescue Service team, took part in the Russian championship in remote-controlled underwater vehicles, finishing fourth in the team.

Speaking about the hardest part of the job, Roman dwells on immersion:

“Any diving descent is, first of all, overcoming oneself, because every time you are afraid to go into the unknown. And no matter how many descents you already have behind you, each one is unique: visibility, ground, weather, target. Everything can be fraught with danger to the diver. Perhaps the most difficult in moral terms is descending after the injured, especially when the count is already in seconds and someone’s life depends on my professional actions.

The family helps Roman cope with the psychological stress at work.

“This is my outlet and the best way to get away from even the most difficult and stressful workdays. I come home and always hug my wife and my little daughter tightly. Five minutes, and that’s it – and again I’m ready to dive anywhere! sums up the lifeguard.

Sofia Petryakova.

Photo from the personal archive of Roman Kuznetsov