Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: In a week that witnessed the arrival of the first international charter flights to the state, signalling the symbolic beginning of Goa’s tourism season, 24 persons were rescued from drowning over the last one week, which included five foreign nationals.
Drishti Marine lifesavers conducted 16 single rescues and four double rescues during the period, while also managing to re-unite four missing children and providing medical assistance to persons injured on the beaches, including one person from Madhya Pradesh who was bitten by an eel.
At Candolim beach on October 6, a 58-year-old man from China was rescued by Drishti Marine lifesaver Sanjay Yadav, after he was dragged as far as 70 metres deep into the sea by a rip current.
On October 4, a Russian mother (40) and daughter (15) were rescued at Candolim beach. After assuring lifesavers they would stay in shallow waters, they were soon caught in a rip current. Lifesavers Divakar Desai and Sanjay Yadav quickly intervened with a surfboard and rescue tube to bring them back to safety.
On October 6, a 68-year-old American tourist at Morjim beach struggled in the water after his family returned to shore. Lifesavers Kashinath Nawar, Pramod Mahale, and Ketan Nagvekar utilised a rescue tube, rescue board, and jetski to successfully rescue him.
Arambol beach also witnessed the rescue of a 31-year-old Australian man on Sunday (October 6). He was caught in a rip current and had to be rescued by lifesaver Aana Melekar with a rescue board.
Over the past week, four double rescues occurred at Arambol, Mandrem, and Agonda beaches. On October 4, lifesavers Harshad Chandekar, Chetan Bandekar, and Vaibhav Chodankar rescued two men from Bengaluru, aged 21 and 28, from drowning at Arambol. On October 3, lifesaver Karan Tandel saved a 43-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman at Mandrem. Additionally, on Sunday at Agonda, lifesaver Satyawan Velip rescued a 34-year-old woman and a 13-year-old girl caught in a rip current.
From the 15 single rescues conducted off Goa’s coastline over the last week, the most number of rescues were carried out off Calangute – Candolim beach stretch.
Drishti Marine lifesavers not only perform rescues but also handle medical emergencies. On September 30 at Ashwem beach, a man from Madhya Pradesh was bitten by an eel while playing with it near the shore. Lifesavers provided immediate first aid before transferring him to a medical team with a 108 ambulance. Additionally, on Gandhi Jayanti at Betalbatim beach, lifesaver Laxmikant Gaude administered first aid to a 49-year-old man from Gujarat, who had cut his foot on a broken glass bottle while walking. Both incidents highlight the lifesavers’ commitment to beach safety.
Four missing children were also traced and handed over to their parents by lifesavers over the last week.
On October 4, a four-year-old girl from Mapusa went missing at Calangute beach but was found within 15 minutes and safely returned to her father after police confirmation. On October 6, a nine-year-old boy from Belgaum also went missing at Calangute but was quickly located following a public announcement. Additionally, at Morjim beach, lifesavers found a child from Karnataka alone and reunited him with a family member after confirming his identity.
A 62-year-old woman from Punjab, missing since early morning on October 6, was located at Sinquerim beach after lifesavers conducted a search following her family’s report.
On October 2 at Calangute beach, lifesaver Hari Chopdekar apprehended a thief who stole a mobile phone from a sleeping tourist’s bag. The thief attempted to flee but was caught and handed over to the police.
