PANJIM: Despite the State being on yellow alert in view of prevailing rough weather conditions, tourists appear to be paying no heed to these warnings or instructions of the Drishti lifeguards manning the beaches.
Against the backdrop of the increase in tourists, the number of tourists being rescued by lifeguards has also increased. A total of 10 tourists were rescued.
At Agonda, three young boys, all under the age of 10 had drifted swiftly and quite deep into the sea. They were rescued by lifeguards and returned to their family.
In another case, a 5-year-old boy from Rajasthan had got lost and was taken to the lifeguard tower and thereafter the lifeguards patrolled the beach, made announcements and reunited the boy with his family. Incidentally, lifeguards revealed that this is the sixth incident of a child getting lost and then being reunited with his family.
Elsewhere, at Dudhsagar, a 28-year-old man had to be rescued by a lifeguard with a rescue tube.
At Arambol, a 28-year-old man was warned not to go into the water but did so anyway. However, soon after that he was unable to get back and started panicking. He was rescued by lifeguards. Lifeguards also stated that those who may not know how to swim have to be extra careful while venturing into the sea.
There was another 28-year-old man at Vagator beach, who was caught in a rip current and was brought back to safety by lifeguards using a rescue board. Both these 28-year-old men were tourists from Maharashtra.
There was another tourist from Maharashtra, a 30-year-old woman, who ran into the water from the shack she was in, despite the warning issued by lifeguards not to get into the water. She also was caught in a rip current and started calling for help and was brought to safety by the lifeguards. Lifeguards noticed that she was under the influence of alcohol and warned that doing so could be a fatal mistake while in the sea. This is a common trend amongst many tourists visiting Goa’s coastal belt.
Finally at Baga, two tourists who were part of a group visiting from Hyderabad were also caught in a rip current. Lifeguards got them to safety using a rescue board and rescue tube.
