THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
With people thronging the beaches of Goa during the festive season, the coast witnessed 81 rescues by Drishti’s lifesavers in 60 separate incidents over the last two weeks. One victim succumbed despite efforts to revive him.
According to reports, the lifesavers witnessed an increase in incidents of water sports enthusiasts who indulged in open sea kayaking and had to be rescued after their kayak toppled over due to the choppy sea conditions.
In eight separate incidents in Palolem, 12 individuals were rescued by Drishti’s lifesavers.
Since January 1, lifesavers rescued 35 persons in water-related incidents and four medical interventions. Of these, 35 were domestic tourists while four were local inhabitants.
The Calangute-Sinquerim coast, Ashvem, Keri in North Goa and Palolem in South Goa witnessed the most number of rescues in the festive period extending from December 20 till date.
On December 31, January 1 and January 3, Drishti lifesavers conducted search and rescue of children aged between one and five years, who went missing on the beach. The children were located and reunited with the parents in all three cases.
On Monday, the coast witnessed a triple rescue at Calangute, double rescues at Candolim and Vagator and a single rescue at Cavelossim beach.
A group of 17 were swimming at Calangute where a trio aged 16, 17 and 20 years drifted into the sea and were being swept away. Drishti lifesavers Leslie Rodrigues, Siddesh Bhosle, Sangam Asolkar and Vinod Gaonkar alerted each other and carried out a rescue of the three individuals.
Two children below 12 years of age were rescued at Vagator from the rocky shore while two males from Madhya Pradesh aged 38 and 42 years were rescued by Tulsidas Palyekar, Sunil Matonkar and Leslie Rodrigues.
