Panaji, April 2024: A Russian couple was rescued off Vagator beach, while eight domestic tourists were among 11 others, who were rescued along the coastline and at the Dudhsagar waterfall over the weekend. First aid was also rendered to four persons, while a lost child was reunited with her family during the same period.

At Vagator beach, a couple from Russia and another individual waded into the water and began drifting. While the individual managed to swim to safety, the couple, a 47-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman, were rescued by Drishti Marine lifesaver Bhagvan Parab with a rescue board.

The weekend also saw four Mumbai residents rescued by watchful lifesavers from drowning at Anjuna and Palolem beaches. In a triple rescue at Anjuna beach, two men aged 26 years and a woman aged 23 years from Mumbai were snagged by a rip current and pulled out with the help of rescue tubes by lifesavers Rahul Shirodkar and Sahish Shirodkar.

Another Mumbai resident, a woman aged 24 years, was rescued at Palolem beach when her kayak overturned 250 metres into the water. A patrolling lifesaver, Parshuram Tari, immediately heard her calls for help and rushed to her rescue on a jet ski, bringing her safely to shore.

At Ashwem beach, a 28-year-old Pune resident who started to drown along with a friend was rescued by lifesavers Rajesh Dhuri and Dhaku Talkar with a rescue tube. The man’s friend managed to save himself in the meantime.

An outing of a group of friends at Candolim beach went awry, when one of them, a 32-year-old man from Punjab, was caught in a rip current. Vigilant lifesaver Yashwant Gaonkar secured the victim with a rescue board.

Similarly, a 23-year-old Karnataka resident, while swimming with his companions at Calangute beach, ventured into deeper waters and began drowning. The victim was rescued by lifesaver Ashwin Ghag, who rushed into the water with a surfboard and brought him safely to shore.

At Dudhsagar, a 28-year-old man from Gujarat fell into the water from a rocky area and panicked as he was unable to swim. Lifesaver Babu Gavli rescued the victim with a rescue tube.

Three Goans were also rescued by lifesavers. At Vagator beach, a 10-year-old boy was rescued from a rocky portion of the beach by beach safety patrol officer Girish Gaonkar.

At Calangute beach, two 23-year-old Candolim residents entered deep waters after a game of football on the shore and began drowning. A patrolling lifesaver, Sunil Matonkar, saved them both with a rescue tube.

Drishti Marine lifesavers also administered first-aid to four individuals over the weekend. At Mandrem beach, a 25-year-old man from Hubli received first-aid after encountering breathing difficulties due to excessive drinking; he was later shifted to the hospital via ambulance. At Baga beach, a 45-year-old woman from Telangana received first-aid from a lifesaver after getting injured in a boat collision; she was later taken to the hospital for further treatment.

A man from Manipur was administered first-aid for a small cut on his right foot at Baga beach, while at Morjim beach, first-aid was administered to a Goan resident for a twisted ankle. Unable to walk, the man was transported to his private vehicle via the Drishti Marine jeep and advised to seek further medical help after refusing an ambulance.

At Calangute beach, a six-year-old girl from Haryana was reunited with her parents after being handed over to the on-duty lifesavers at the tower by another tourist. The parents were soon traced and the child was handed over after their identification.

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