Panaji: An incident involving a pack of stray dogs attacking a Russian man and a local being stung by a stingray at a South Goa beach marked the first weekend of 2025 in the coastal state.
A spokesman of Drishti Marine Lifesaving Services said that at Mobor Beach in South Goa, on Saturday, a 45-year-old Russian national was chased by three stray dogs before he was eventually bitten by one on the beach.
“The injured person was immediately administered first aid to his affected leg by Drishti Marine lifesavers, after which he was advised to seek further medical treatment,” he said.
It may be recalled that in December 2024, three senior citizens, including two foreign nationals from Russia and the United Kingdom, respectively, were bitten by stray dogs on the beaches of Mobor and Benaulim in South Goa.
He said that the first week of 2025 also saw a woman from Taleigao being stung by a stingray off Velsao Beach in South Goa.
The spokesman said that a 23-year-old woman from Taleigao accidentally stepped on a stingray at the beach and was stung on her right leg as a result. “Drishti Marine lifesavers administered first aid and she was then taken to the nearest health centre for further treatment,” he said.
In yet another instance, the lifesaving personnel rescued four persons from drowning while reuniting two missing children with their parents along the state’s beaches and at the Dudhsagar waterfalls.
Drishti Marine lifesavers averted a tragedy at the Dudhsagar Waterfalls after a child from Haryana, who was enjoying the natural water pool while wearing a lifejacket, suddenly panicked and cried for help.
“Her 38-year-old father jumped into the water without a lifejacket and began drowning. Drishti Marine lifesaver jumped into the water immediately and rescued the drowning father,” he said.
During the weekend, a 39-year-old male from Russia was caught in a rip current after he stepped into a risk-prone area at Baga Beach marked by caution tape.
“Noticing his distress, lifesavers rushed to assist him with the help of a rescue tube. At the same beach, a seven-year-old girl from Rajasthan was reunited with her parents after she accidentally separated from them,” he said.
The spokesman said that at Mandrem Beach, a 40-year-old woman from Russia panicked after she was engulfed in a rip current while swimming off Mandrem Beach.
“A lifesaver rushed to her rescue with a surfboard and was assisted by another lifesaver with the help of a jet ski. She was safely brought back to the beach,” he said.
The spokesman said that a 38-year-old woman from Belarus was rescued by Drishti Marine lifesavers as she was struggling in the water due to a rip current and was unable to escape it.
“She was brought back to the shore with the help of a surfboard. At the same beach, a three-year-old boy from Uttar Pradesh was reunited with his family by a lifesaver after he accidentally got separated from them,” he said.
