Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Drishti Marine lifesavers came to the aid of nine beachgoers, including five foreign nationals, along Goa’s coastline during the extended Dussehra weekend, a period that saw heavy tourist footfall at the state’s popular beaches. Lifesavers also successfully traced three children who had gone missing, and provided first aid to a swimmer injured by a stingray.
At Cavelossim beach, an 80-year-old Russian woman panicked in chest-deep water and was rescued by Ashish S Gaonkar and Yuvraj Velip. Two men from Punjab, aged 22 and 23, were saved from a sudden dip in the sea by Laxman Gaonkar and Girish Gurudas Velip.
On Anjuna beach, a 20-year-old Swedish man caught in a rip current was rescued by Rahul Shirodkar and Saish Ashok Shirodkar. At Mandrem beach, a 24-year-old Russian man struggling in a rip current was brought ashore by Vitorino Francis D’ Souza and Captain Nagesh Suresh Sarng with assistance from Umesh Phadte.
Other rescues included a 28-year-old Russian woman at Keri beach, a 35-year-old Russian man at Morjim beach, and two men from Bengaluru at Arambol beach, all safely brought ashore by teams of trained lifesavers using rescue tubes, boards, and jetskis.
At Mobor beach, a 30-year-old woman from Bengaluru sustained a stingray-related leg injury. Lifesaver Utkarsh Velip administered first aid and advised her to seek further medical attention.
The lifesavers also traced three missing children. At Colva beach, a four-year-old boy from Karnataka and a four-year-old girl from Kerala were found alone and safely reunited with their parents after verification and coordination with local police. A five-year-old boy from Chitradurga, Karnataka, reported lost at Calangute, was traced at Candolim by lifesavers Sourabh Sanjay Patil, Captain Chandan Giri, and Brajkishor Kushvaha, and returned to his family.
The weekend’s operations highlight the vigilance and efficiency of Goa’s trained marine lifesaving teams in ensuring visitor safety along the coastline.
