Panaji, November 2024: A 31-year-old woman from Kolkata and a 20-year-old Goan beachgoer narrowly escaped drowning off Agonda and Velsao beaches, respectively, after disregarding warnings from Drishti Marine lifesavers about the dangers of swimming in rip current-infested waters. Both were rescued by alert lifesavers over the weekend, which also saw one triple rescue, two multiple rescues, two single rescues and one person being administered with first-aid along Goa’s coastline.

Agonda: A group of four tourists from Kolkata, seated near a demarcated no-swim zone, was warned by Drishti Marine lifesavers not to enter the water. Ignoring the warnings, three ventured in and were swept away by rip currents. A 31-year-old woman, who began to drown, was rescued by lifesaver Ratnakar Velip using a rescue tube, while her two companions managed to return to shore unaided.

Velsao: A 20-year-old man from Vasco ignored lifesavers’ warnings and entered a no-swim zone, where he was caught in a rip current. Lifesaver Kashappa Madar swiftly rescued him using a rescue tube.

Baga: Four British tourists got caught in a rip current and were swept 50 metres away from the shore while swimming. Lifesaver Saurav Kumar plunged into the water and managed to get ahold of the two of them. But with the current too strong to navigate a surfboard, lifesaver Sandesh Paryekar too joined the rescue operation with a jetski and extracted the duo. Another lifesaver, Fondu Gawas, used a rescue tube to rescue one more British national from the group, while the fourth managed to swim to the shore by himself.

Calangute: A group of six visitors from Bengaluru was swept 35 metres offshore while swimming. Lifesavers Kartik Naik saved three individuals using a rescue tube, Umesh Madikar saved two victims with a jet ski and Nakul Usapkar managed to save one using a rescue tube.

Calangute: Drishti Marine lifesavers also managed to orchestrate a triple rescue of three Pune residents. Lifesaver Rohit Hiranayak brought two victims to shore using a rescue board while lifesaver Rahul pulled the third person to the safety of the shore.

Colva: Patrolling Drishti Marine lifesavers found an unidentified male, aged between 25 and 30 years, suffering from respiratory issues about a hundred metres beyond the shoreline. After clearing his airway and setting an umbrella up to provide him with shade, the lifesavers informed the police and emergency health services and handed him over to medical personnel who arrived on the spot with an ambulance.

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