From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network-Goa
Panaji, Nov 15: Drishti Lifesaving Pvt Ltd provides professional lifeguard services on behalf of the department of Tourism, Government of Goa deployed across Goa.
Over the last ten days lifeguards from Drishti lifesaving Pvt ltd have been working round the clock at the start of the new tourist season ensuring safety of visitors on Goa’s beaches.
On Nov 1, at about 14:45 hrs approx 50 mtrs left of Calangute tower a group of two tourists were spotted swimming in a red flag area. While enjoying they were pulled by underwater current which dragged them offshore and they started gesturing for help. The lifeguard jet ski operator observed them in distress immediately and approached the spot.
Both the tourists were secured with the help of the Jet Ski and brought safely to the shore. Upon primary check up since no abnormalities were noted, they were released with safety advice.
On Nov 2, at about 18:10 hrs approx 50mtrs left to Calangute tower a group of four tourists were spotted swimming in a red flag area after beach closure. Lifeguard warned the tourists to stay out of water as the beach was closed but the tourists were under the influence of alcohol and continued at same spot. While enjoying two of them got pulled by underwater currents which dragged them offshore and they started gesturing for help. Lifeguard Swapnil and Vinod observed the victims in distress and rushed to their aid after relaying a rescue call over the radio. Immediately a jet ski was launched for possible help. The victims were secured with the rescue board and rescue tube and brought safely to the shore with the help of the jet ski. Upon primary check up since no abnormalities were noted, they were released with safety advice.
On Nov 4, at about 15:45 hrs approx 200 mtrs right of Candolim 1tower, a tourist entered a red flag area along with his friends. Lifeguard Vishant manning the point requested the tourist to enjoy at knee level but he refused to pay attention to the lifeguard's request and continued at same spot. While enjoying the victim felt a sudden change in the water level and was unable to stay afloat thus gestured for help. Duty lifeguard observed the victim in distress and immediately rushed to the spot after relaying a rescue call over the radio. The victim was secured onto the rescue board and brought safely to the shore. Upon primary check up since no abnormalities were noted, he was released with safety advice.
On Nov 4, at about 15:40 hrs approx 400mtrs left of Baga 1 tower, two tourists were spotted in a red flag area. Lifeguard Nanda manning the point requested the tourist to enjoy at knee level water but they refused to pay attention to the lifeguard’s request and continued at same spot. While enjoying the duo got pulled by a rip current which dragged them offshore and thus they started gesturing for help. Duty lifeguard observed the victims in distress and immediately rushed to the spot after relaying a rescue call over the radio. On receiving the rescue call patrolling jet ski was directed to the spot for possible help. Victims were secured onto the rescue board and safely placed onto the jet ski mat and brought safely to the shore. Upon primary check up since no abnormalities were noted, they were released with safety advice.
On Nov 5, at about 10:30hrs approx 600mtrs right side of Vagator tower, two tourists entered in a red flag area. Lifeguard Deepak manning the point requested the tourists to enjoy at knee level water but they did not pay any heed to the lifeguard's request and continued at the same spot. While enjoying they experienced an inward pull due to a rip current which dragged them offshore and were seen gesturing for help. Lifeguard observed the victims in distress and immediately rushed to the spot after relaying a rescue call over the radio. Victims were secured onto the rescue board and were brought safely to the shore. Upon primary check up since no abnormalities were noted they were released with safety advice.
On Nov 5, at about 14:45hrs approx 300 mtrs right of Arambol tower, a crowd of 80 tourists were in a red flag area. Lifeguard Mandar manning the point was requesting the tourists to enjoy at knee level but they refused to pay attention to the lifeguard's request and continued at same spot. While enjoying one of them started venturing in deeper water and experienced an inward pull due to underwater current which dragged him offshore and thus he started gesturing for help. Lifeguard observed the victim in distress and immediately rushed to the spot after relaying a rescue call over the radio. The victim was secured onto the rescue board and brought safely to the shore. Upon primary check up since no abnormalities were noted he was released with safety advice.
On Nov 6, at about 12:15hrs approx 300 mtrs right of Candolim 1 tower, a crowd of 200 tourists entered in water in a red flagged area. While enjoying two tourist started venturing in deeper water and at a certain distance felt they could not stay afloat and started gesturing for help. Lifeguard Harish and Viddesh manning the point observed the victims in distress and immediately rushed to the spot after relaying a rescue call over the radio. A patrolling jetski was also directed to the spot for possible help. The victims were safely secured with the help of rescue board and tube. Meanwhile the jetski reached the spot and the victim-1 was placed on jet ski mat and brought to the shore while victim-2 was safely placed on rescue board and brought to the shore. On checking their vitals, victim1 was found to be normal while victim 2 was facing breathing problem hence his airway was cleared and he vomited huge amount of water and food particles. Victim-2 was put in a recovery position and oxygen was administered. Simultaneously a call was placed to the 108 ambulance but since they were busy attending to another emergency the victim was shifted to Vrundavan hospital Calangute in lifeguard jeep. After diagnostic checkup the doctors stated that the victim was out of danger.
On Nov 8, at about 14:45hrs approx 200mtrs left of Anjuna tower, two foreign tourists entered in a red flag area. Lifeguard Sandeep and Rajesh manning the point requested them to enjoy at knee level but they refused to pay attention to the lifeguard's request and continued at same spot. While enjoying the victims got pulled by underwater current which dragged them offshore and they started gesturing for help. Duty lifeguards observed the victims in distress immediately and rushed to the spot after relaying a rescue call over the radio. The victims were secured and brought safely to the shore. Upon primary checkup since no abnormalities were noted, they were released with safety advice.
On Nov 8, at about 15:15hrs approx 100mtrs left of Calangute tower, a tourist was spotted in knee level water. Suddenly big waves hit her and she fell in the water. A family member brought her to the shore and called to the lifeguard for help. Nearby patrolling jeep lifeguard Siddesh noticed the victim in distress and relayed an emergency call over the radio. Since the victim was having difficulty in breathing she was put in a recovery position and oxygen was administered. She was then safely shifted in the lifeguard jeep to Vrundavan hospital at Calangute.
On Nov 8, at about 10:50 hrs approx 50 mtrs in front of Zalor tower three tourist comprising two gents and one lady were spotted enjoying in a water about 20 mtrs seawards. They were enjoying comfortably, as the time passed all three of them were pulled inside by a rip current following which duty lifeguards Sutendra Velip and Gauresh Velip relayed a rescue message to the tower and rushed to secured victim. Lifeguard Sutendra Velip secured both male victim onto the rescue board and brought them ashore while the lady victim was secured with rescue tube by lifeguard Gauresh. At the same time patrolling jetski reached the spot and the lady victim was brought safely to the shore with the help of the jetski. Upon recovery, all three victims were checked for any possible injuries. Since all the victims were found to be fit, they were released immediately.
Another incident on the same day at about 12:30 hrs approx 150 mtrs right of Majorda tower, a Russian tourist along with his daughter was spotted swimming in the water. After a while the duo were dragged inside by a strong rip current thus they panicked and raised an alarm. Lifeguard Shubham Gaonkar posted at the point spotted the victims gesturing for help, immediately tower was informed and he rushed towards the victims with the rescue board. Tower too reacted promptly and directed the patrolling jetski to the spot. The duo were secured onto the rescue board by lifeguard Shubham. On arrival of the jetski the victims were shifted over to the jetski and brought to the shore. Later the victims were checked for any abnormalities and since they were found to be normal they were released immediately.