'Survivor' contestant Ashley Nolan, Satellite Beach lifeguard, really is a lifesaving hero

'Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers' will debut Sept. 27, 2017, on CBS.

Jennifer Sangalang
Florida Today
  • Ashley Nolan was an All-Space Coast volleyball player for Satellite High in 2008
  • Nolan also played softball for the Satellite High Scorpions
  • She graduated from Satellite High in 2009

Ashley Nolan of Satellite Beach will make her reality TV debut Wednesday, Sept. 27, on season 35 of "Survivor."

Ashley Nolan of Satellite Beach shows off her audition number at Victory Casino Cruises at Port Canaveral during an open audition for "Survivor." Nolan apparently appears on season 35, "Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers," thanks to her audition at Victory.

After auditioning at an open casting call at Victory Casino Cruises at Port Canaveral, Nolan made the cut. Filming for this season took place in Fiji in the spring.

The 26-year-old's on #TeamHeroes in "Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers" -- and we're not surprised.

 

After all, as Brevard County Ocean Rescue lifeguard captain, saving lives is part of the job.

And sometimes it happens outside of the water.

On July 28, during a storm, Nolan saw the strikes hitting the beach on her way home from work. She saw a man run out on to SR A1A by the park asking for help and knew someone had been stuck by lightning. She performed CPR on the victim until Brevard County Fire Rescue arrived on scene.

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"As I was driving home, I see a gentleman practically dart out into traffic and waving for help so I kind of instantly knew that somebody had got struck by lightning," the lifeguard told FLORIDA TODAY about the rescue in July. "I saw the strike, saw how close it was relative to where the guy was running off the beach."

"No one else was on scene," she added, "so I turned in and automatically checked his pulse and began CPR, and that's when Brevard County (Fire-Rescue) joined me. I knew he had only been down for less than a minute. I had just seen the strike happen right in front of my face.

"The sooner you get on it, the sooner the better," Nolan said in July.

However, when it comes to "Survivor," it's all about the competition for the Satellite High grad. We're sure her lifeguard training will most certainly come in handy.

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Cast members typically have to get permission from the production companies or network to talk about their role in a show.

In a "Survivor" preview video on cbs.com, "Ashley the lifeguard" says, "Being a lifeguard, when you run in the water to save someone's life, your adrenaline's going, your heart's pumping ... but out here, it's either sink, swim or get out of the ocean. For the first time in my life, I've got to let people sink, and I'm not going to take any mercy."

Brevard County lifeguard captain Ashley Nolan talks about seeing the strikes on her way home from work and seeing a man run into traffic on A1A asking for help for his friend who was struck by lightning.  She performed CPR until Brevard County Fire Rescue arrived on scene.  Two people were taken to the hospital.

"Survivor" will divide 18 contestants into three teams. Each week, a contest will send the third-place team to Tribal Council, where one member of that team will be voted out of the game. In the end, one remaining Survivor will receive $1 million.

Immunity contests typically consist of physical and/or mental challenges and often include swimming, as almost every one of the 35 seasons of "Survivor" has been staged on a beach, usually a Pacific Island.

For more information about the show, visit cbs.com/shows/survivor.

Brian McCallum contributed to this report.

Sangalang is a digital producer at FLORIDA TODAY.

Contact Sangalang at 321-242-3630

or jsangalang@floridatoday.com.

Twitter: @byjensangalang

Ashley Nolan of Satellite Beach is a Brevard County lifeguard and season 35 contestant of "Survivor."

The details

"Survivor: Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers," season 35 of CBS' long-running show, will premiere at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27, on CBS. Episodes air at 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Visit cbs.com/shows/survivor

At least one person was struck by lightning at S.P.R.A Park in Satellite Beach Friday evening. Brevard County lifeguard captain Ashley Nolan saw the strikes hitting the beach on her way home from work, saw a man run out onto A1A by the park asking for help and knew someone was stuck by lightning. She performed CPR until Brevard County Fire Rescue arrived on scene.  Two people were taken to the hospital.