When paramedic Phil Bell turns up to help people at what is often the worst time of their lives, his stature can elicit comfort or hostility.
Key points:
- Paramedic Phil Bell is aiming for the title of Victoria's Strongest Man
- He may need to pull a truck weighing up to 20 tonnes for the competition
- His neighbours often see him pulling cars or carrying entire squat racks down the road
He is nearly two metres tall and weighs 160 kilograms, which he maintains by consuming 5,000 calories each day during his training as a strongman.
"I think a trap that a lot of people fall into is that the ambo job becomes their identity in their life," Mr Bell said.
"I'm not an ambo who's a strongman. I'm a strongman who's an ambo."
Fellow paramedic Beth Pescod said patients responded "quite well" when Mr Bell arrived at a scene.
"Initially there has been some level of, 'Wow', and they expect to be lifted up but Phil really takes the time to teach them how to get themselves off the ground and spends that time with them so they don't have to call us back again," she said.
When Mr Bell's "teddy bear" nature shines through, his patients are quick to realise he is there to take care of them. After all, he already has the title of Victoria's Strongest Emergency Services Worker.
"Occasionally at first look it can elevate people who are agitated, until they see how caring he is," Ms Pescod said.
"Phil got the nickname 'the Teddy Bear' because he is absolutely beautiful and lovely with all of his patients.
"He's just a very, very compassionate paramedic."
Embracing the 'circus freak' element
Mr Bell is this weekend competing in the iron pairs competition at the Strong Geelong gym.
This, alongside his daily rigorous training schedule, is all in preparation for Victoria's Strongest Man competition in October.
"I did powerlifting for a couple of years and it was just getting a bit stale," Mr Bell said.
"Strongman is just so much more dynamic.
"There's a lot more movement, a lot more variety and it's just got this sort of circus freak show element to it."
On his quiet street in Warragul, Mr Bell can often be seen carrying squat racks down the road, or even pulling his own car.
To date, a LandCruiser four-wheel-drive and boat have been his heaviest haul, weighing in at six tonnes.
But when he competes for the title of Victoria's Strongest Man, Mr Bell could be pulling a truck that could weigh up to 20 tonnes.
To help with his mindset, he channels childhood hero Goku, the strongest man in existence in the Japanese anime television series, Dragon Ball Z.
"I wanted nothing more than to be Goku when I grew up," Mr Bell said.
"I hit a point in my life where I realised you know what? I'm pretty damn close.
"So I figured dress for the job you want, not for the job you have, and here I am."