MONDAY, MAY 06, 2024
Team Herald
Over the weekend in October 2023, a total of 17 persons were rescued from potentially life-threatening situations by lifeguards and bystanders at various beaches in Goa. Among those rescued were a father and son from Kazakhstan who were kayaking near Arambol beach. Their kayaking adventure turned dangerous when they encountered a large wave. Fortunately, another kayaker and an on-duty lifesaver came to their aid, using a jetski to bring the father and son safely back to shore.
In separate incidents at Arambol beach, two persons from Pune, Nitesh Gadekar (31) and Rajesh Talkar (32), were saved from drowning by an on-duty lifesaver. Additionally, a 21-year-old person from Delhi was rescued by Dattaram Bandekar, a beach safety patrol officer, with the assistance of a surfboard.
Calangute Beach witnessed two double rescue operations. The first involved, two men from Karnataka, aged 20 and 27, who lost their balance and ended up in deep water. Lifeguards quickly intervened, ensuring their safe return to shore. Similarly, two 21-year-old residents of Jammu and Kashmir were brought to safety after they found themselves unable to swim back to the beach.
Lifeguard Hari Chopdekar was involved in two other rescues at Calangute beach on separate occasions during the weekend. In both instances, a 27-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh and a 26-year-old man from Rajasthan had ventured too far into the deep sea and were unable to swim back. Chopdekar utilized a rescue tube and surfboard to secure their safety.
At Morjim beach, two men from Rajasthan, aged 22 and 24, were caught in a rip current but were successfully rescued by lifeguards Anand Parab, Raghavendra Kaskar, and Amon Salgaonkar. Meanwhile, at Candolim Beach, a couple from Bangalore in their early thirties was rescued with the aid of a rescue tube and surfboard. Additionally, a 31-year-old man from Rajasthan was rescued at Baga Beach, and at Anjuna, a lifeguard on duty conducted a rescue operation for a 24-year-old man from Bangalore.
In two other incidents, lifeguards located two missing children: an eight-year-old from Rajasthan at Calangute Beach and a four-year-old from Punjab at Baga Beach.
