PANAJI: As tourist footfall surged along Goa’s coastline during the Christmas weekend, Drishti Marine lifesavers mounted a series of rescue operations, saving 24 persons from drowning and administering first aid in five jellyfish sting cases across beaches in North and South Goa.
The weekend’s operations included eight single rescues, three double rescues, and two multiple rescues.
At Mandrem beach, a 33-year-old tourist from Hyderabad was rescued after encountering difficulty while swimming with friends. At Ashwem beach, two tourists from Punjab, aged 47 and 15, drifted nearly 100 metres offshore and were rescued by a team of three lifesavers.
At Morjim beach, four tourists from Karnataka faced difficulty swimming about 10 metres from the shore and were rescued using a rescue board with jet ski support. In another incident at the same beach, a tourist from Hyderabad was caught in a rip current and rescued by a three-member team. A missing four-year-old boy from Maharashtra was also traced and reunited with his family.
At Anjuna beach, a 43-year-old man from Mumbai sustained a leg injury after being hit by a strong wave and was administered first aid by lifesavers.
Multiple rescues were reported at Baga beach, where six tourists, including a woman from Kazakhstan, were pulled out of unsafe waters. In separate incidents, two young tourists from Maharashtra and a 30-year-old tourist from Pune were also rescued. An 11-year-old girl from Hyderabad who went missing at the beach was later traced and reunited with her family.
At Calangute beach, a 21-year-old tourist from Bengaluru was rescued after facing difficulty while swimming. At the same beach, a seven-year-old girl from Hyderabad who went missing was later traced near a water sports area.
At Utorda beach, a 50-year-old tourist from Mumbai was rescued after losing his bodyboard nearly 50 metres offshore.
At Majorda beach, a 62-year-old Russian tourist was rescued after exhausting himself while swimming about 80 metres offshore. At Benaulim beach, two minor boys from Maharashtra were rescued after being caught in a rip current, while at Patnem beach, a tourist from Andhra Pradesh was rescued after being dragged by a rip current.
Jellyfish stings were reported from several beaches, with five persons requiring first aid. An 11-year-old girl from Nashik was treated for a sting at Baina beach, while a 15-year-old boy from Maharashtra was administered first aid at Bogmalo beach. At Colva beach, two minors from Karnataka sustained jellyfish stings on their hands and were treated by lifesavers. At Palolem beach, a Goan woman was also treated for a jellyfish sting before being handed over to her family.
