MUMBAI: At Juhu beach on an outing with his kids on Sunday, a 38-year-old man jumped into the water to attempt a rescue of a 10-year-old boy but drowned. The youngster was brought out by locals and is stable.
Thirty five incidents have been reported at Juhu beach so far this year where people ventured into the water and needed help. Lifeguards manning the beach have been able to rescue many.
According to the police, the 10-year-old boy was catching crabs at Juhu Koliwada. About 500 metres from where the lifeguard is stationed, the child slipped and fell into the water. Ashish Dhusar who witnessed the incident jumped in to assist him. "Dhusar was a good swimmer. But watching him struggle, other bystanders got into the water to assist," said a police officer. The child was brought out but there was no sign of Dhusar.
A search operation was carried out late into the night but there was no trace of him. On Monday, a group of fishermen from Mora Gaon went over to the mangroves where they tie their boats. They spotted a body and summoned the Juhu police. It was Dhusar.
Over the weekend, four separate incidents were reported at the Juhu beach where civic lifeguards managed to rescue nine lives. In one of the incidents, three young men from Andheri-- one of them a teenager-- entered the water but encountered a strong wave.
They tried to swim back to the shore but were unable to do so due to the strong current that was pulling them further into the sea. Lifeguards and a local resident brought them out to safety. In a separate case, three minors from Wadala were caught in a strong current at Juhu beach due to a sudden change in tides. Two lifeguards came to their rescue.
Six popular beaches in the city-- Girgaum, Dadar, Juhu, Versova, Aksa and Gorai-- are manned by lifeguards from Drishti Lifesaving Pvt Ltd., contracted by the BMC. These beaches have been selected as they witness very high footfalls. Aksa, which witnessed 38 incidents this year of people needing assistance, is among the deadliest followed by Juhu.
