Panaji: The growing menace of stray dogs along South Goa’s coastal belt snared another victim, with a seven-year-old boy attacked by a dog at Colva beach.“Drishti lifesavers quickly responded to a seven-year-old boy’s call for help after he was attacked by a stray dog. The boy sustained a bite wound to his leg. Lifesavers stationed nearby administered first aid to him, with advice to consult a medical professional immediately,” said Drishti Marine in a statement.In Feb, beach marshal Pratik Velip was bitten by a stray dog during patrol at Colva beach. Velip was shifted to a medical facility for treatment.The Majorda-Benaulim belt witnessed several instances of tourists and lifeguards being attacked by dogs over the last year.Tourists reported that packs of dogs were present at Sernabatim and Benaulim beach, and nearby areas.Three on-duty Drishti Marine lifesavers were bitten by stray dogs while patrolling Goa’s beaches in the span of two weeks in May 2024.On account of the numerous incidents involving dog bites on Goa’s beaches, Drishti Marine trained lifesavers to spot aggression in stray dogs. Some foreigners who were victims of dog bites recommended the use of pepper spray as a deterrent against stray dog attacks on beaches.Meanwhile, lifeguards also helped rescue several tourists over the weekend. Drishti Marine lifesavers saved two lives at the Arambol sweet water lake. In the first case, lifesaver Vishnu Kunal rescued a 46-year-old man who swam deep into the lake and began drowning.In the second incident, lifesaver Harshad Chandekar rescued a 36-year-old tourist from Maharashtra who ventured into the water despite being a weak swimmer, and brought him safely back to the bank.At Ashwem, a Russian teen was rescued after she got caught in a low-tide flow rip while enjoying the waters off Ashwem beach. She was spotted in distress by lifesaver Hiren Keluskar, who rushed towards her in a rescue boat and secured her.Drishti lifeguards also came to the aid of an 87-year-old woman who suffered a fall at Calangute beach.Suspecting a spinal injury, the lifesavers called the 108 ambulance, carried her on a spinal board, and handed her over to medical personnel for further treatment.At Palolem, two local youths kayaking 400m from the shore lost their balance and toppled into the water. Seeing them in distress, lifesavers brought them both ashore.
