PANAJI
The extended Diwali weekend saw Drishti Marine lifesavers conducting marathon rescue operations across the coastline, saving 19 persons, including nine Russians, from drowning.
Details shared by the lifesaving agency reveal that at Palolem beach, a 21-year-old man from Karnataka was pulled into deep waters by a strong current after he and two companions ignored safety warnings. Lifesaver Vikas Mehta used a rescue tube, assisted by Samir Kankonkar on a jetski, to bring him ashore.
At Butterfly beach, a 25-year-old man from Gujarat was rescued by lifesaver Shekhar Velip after being caught in a rip current while posing for a photo. On Talpona beach, a 62-year-old man from Patnem panicked while swimming in a lateral current and was rescued by lifesaver Arvind Girip using a rescue tube.
Calangute beach saw two incidents wherein a 17-year-old from Chhattisgarh and a 29-year-old from Uttar Pradesh were rescued by lifesavers.
At Candolim beach, four separate incidents led to the rescue of a 42-year-old Russian woman, a 25-year-old man from Chhattisgarh, and three other Russian women aged between 50 and 59.
Baga beach reported rescues including two Russian women, a man from Karnataka, and two men from Tamil Nadu.
Besides, a four-year-old boy from Uttar Pradesh who suffered an epileptic seizure and was stabilized by lifesavers was soon shifted to the hospital.
Rescues were also conducted at Sinquerim, Morjim, and Dudhsagar, saving both Indian and Russian tourists caught in strong currents.
