Six New Zealand lifeguards from that country’s famed Bethells Beach Surf Lifesaving Patrol will travel to the Greek Island of Lesvos for three weeks to offer their services.

This will be the first time a New Zealand surf life saving club has helped with the Syrian crisis, said Dave Comp, one of the six lifesaver volunteers, to One News Now in New Zealand.

“This is the biggest humanitarian crisis of our time, politics aside, as lifeguards it is our duty to prevent people from drowning,” he said.

“We realize that what we are doing isn’t going to make a huge impact but what if it was my family, or yours, we can’t just sit here and watch this happen.”

The team, aged from 21-54, will volunteer their skills and resources and will rescue refugees traveling by boat along the four mile stretch of Mediterranean Sea from Turkey to Lesvos.

In addition to volunteering, they will donate a $15,000 inflatable rescue boat and will help train current volunteer units on how to use it there, as well as providing rescue aid, first aid and assisting arriving refugees.

The lifeguards are trying to raise money from their community to support their efforts and have set up a fundraising page.