Ben surfs from nippers at age eight to fully fledged Tamarama lifesaver at 13

BEN Porter is only 13 years old but he is already qualified to save lives.

Ben Porter

BEN Porter is only 13 years old but he is already qualified to save lives.

Ben, of Chifley, started out as an eight-year-old nipper at Tamarama Surf Club but now will be on patrol duty after graduating from the Holly Days program and being awarded his Surf Rescue Certificate.

He will wear the uniform after passing intensive tests, which included water rescues, first aid and signalling techniques.

Ben was this week nominated for the Southern Courier's Junior Sports Star award.

"I didn't know if I could become a lifesaver, but my friend is a lifesaver so I thought I would try," Ben said.

"We learnt all the hand signals and a book to study I studied a lot."

The Holly Days program is an Indigenous outreach program run by the Tamarama Surf Life Saving Club.