Firefighter Wolé Adesemoye from Battersea Fire Station has won the second series of the hit BBC Three programme Last Man Standing.
Wolé was in joint second position going into the final challenge, a gruelling 40km ocean canoe race over two days on shark filled water in Papua New Guinea. The six contestants slept on crocodile infested islands and the final race was across open seas in the baking tropical heat. Wolé finished first and was crowned Last Man Standing.
He travelled to 10 countries during the programme, sampling the local cultures and competing in ancient tribal events in the most remote parts of the world. Wolé’s two other victories were stick-fighting in Ethiopia and kick fighting in the Philippines. Wolé explains; “It was an epic adventure, visiting some of the most stunning places in the world and I will never forget this experience. This was the hardest thing I’ve ever done and I’m absolutely thrilled to have won.”
In his day-job as a firefighter, Wolé has also worked with the Brigade’s positive action team, which encourages people to think about fire service careers, and hopes his victory in the show can be an inspiration to young people. Wolé continued; “I want to be a positive role model to black and minority ethnic communities and show that if I can become a firefighter so can you. I hope my involvement in the programme has shown that the Brigade is a great career choice.”
Living with the locals and respecting their cultures is a big part of the television show and Wolé believes that his skills as a London firefighter helped him through the journey. He continued; “Communicating with the local communities, dealing with difficult situations and respecting people are all skills I need in my working life, and they helped me immensely in the show. Being part of a diverse workforce with people of different genders, races and religions has also given me the understanding and respect which were essential in the tribal areas.”
Wolé, 28, lives in Fulham, West London and has lived there since he was five when his family moved from Nigeria. His training schedule sees him up at 6am every other day running three miles as well as weight exercises in the afternoon to keep him fit. He is an amateur boxer and trains at Dale youth amateur boxing club in North Kensington. Wolé said; “I used to play semi-professional football and ran the London Marathon in 2006. Training is a huge part of my job as a firefighter and I’m lucky that it also allows me to have a great work life balance.”
Wolé has worked on the blue watch at Battersea Fire Station for the past four years. He concluded; “No one can predict to what height you can soar even you would not know until you spread your wings, nothing is impossible.”
The show’s finale was broadcasted on Tuesday 16 December.
Pictures are available on request in uniform from robert.mctaggart@london-fire.gov.uk or on the show from pictures@bbc.co.uk
