PANJIM: A Mumbai family’s extended vacation has left them in deep shock after their 10-year-old suffered an awful accident on Baga beach, at a time when the State witnessed a huge rush of tourists for New Year celebrations.
A broken glass piece, strewn on the beach by some careless visitor/s, pierced into the leg palm of the child’s foot leaving him severely injured. Herald has decided to withhold the identity of the victim family considering the sensitivity of the matter.
How it happened
On December 26, 2020; the boy accompanied by his mother and two families were on the beach to make the most of the year-end moment. The family had decided to enjoy an extended stay in Goa after many companies announced work from home whereas many schools continue to remain shut.
The school going boy was brimming with excitement and enthusiasm of finally making it to the beach to enjoy water sports, have meals under the open sky and a lot more. But soon it turned out to be a harrowing experience when a broken bottle glass piece damaged his leg palm.
Herald spoke to the victim’s father, who narrated the ordeal while also requesting people to be responsible.
“It was around 11am when my wife and our son went to the beach with two other families, known to us. He (his son) played water sports and everyone had their lunch at a shack. Before returning, my son decided to play a little more in the water and while he was running back, he screamed and cried. People rushed to help him,” the father recalled.
Emergency medical care
It was near the water’s edge that the child had his leg palm cut so deep that there was blood running down profusely. Fortunately, the father said, some doctors on the beach tried to stop the bleeding whilst lifeguards providing him with first aid assistance. He was rushed to a nearby hospital that further referred him to a bigger hospital due to the severity of the injury.
“He suffered internal damage as the cut was too deep. Doctors initially suggested plastic surgery but luckily his bones were not affected. My son underwent a two-hour long surgery,” the father said admitting that the sight of the injury set his family off in a panic.
The father, who soon joined his son at the hospitals, slammed ‘irresponsible citizens’ for triggering the situation and creating such a scenario that can harm the general public. His son has been advised two month’s bed rest followed by physiotherapy. “The injury was serious. My son, who loves the beach, loves sports will now have restrictions as the doctors have advised he cannot get into professional sports,” he said.
Tarnished image of beaches
“One stupid person’s mistake has caused him trauma and he never wants to go to the beach again. It’s a beautiful State with beautiful people… It could have been worse or fatal. Such incidents can happen with anyone,” the aggrieved father said.
This is just one of incidents Goa reported in the recent past. The State catered to lakhs of tourists during the peak season nearly all of whom were carelessly holidaying with no face masks, no social distancing and littering places including the beaches.
Videos and pictures of the same have surfaced on social media, receiving wide spread condemnation not just from locals but also from people in the country and abroad who are concerned about how it could contribute to a second COVID-19 wave.
Drishti lifeguards have come across quite a few similar cases in the past fortnight.
Then Chief Minister (late) Manohar Parrikar had declared a ban on drinking in public places from August 15, 2018. This also included a ban on littering on the beaches, all of which would attract hefty fines. The then North Goa Police team had also ordered a crackdown on the offense following complaints of broken glass injuring people on beaches. The rule has however not been a reality.