In another beach accident, Russian drowns off Arambol

PANAJI/MAPUSA: A 64-yearold Russian tourist drowned off Arambol beach on Sunday evening. While the cause of his death has not yet been ascertained, it is suspected that he suffered a stroke while swimming.


He had come for a holiday to Goa, along with his wife. They went to Arambol beach and he ventured into the water for a swim during the latter half of the day.

Over the last one month, at least six persons have died due to drowning, including two foreigners. Nearly 280 people have been rescued by Drishti, the state’s lifeguarding agency.

Drishti said that the deceased’s wife approached lifeguards at around 5pm, a distance away from the main Arambol beach, informing them that she couldn’t spot her husband.

Her sexagenarian husband, she said, was a good swimmer but had medical issues. The lifeguards radioed Arambol tower and called for a jet ski and an ambulance service, due to the impending medical emergency. One lifeguard spotted a male body floating in the water less than 50 metres from the shore, in waist deep water. “Vitals of the victim were found to be absent. The man’s wife suspected it to be a stroke or heart-attack given his past medical condition. CPR was given and the lifeguards on duty attempted to revive the victim with an AED ( Automated External Defibrillator ) machine, on the spot. The victim and his wife were soon rushed by a 108-ambulance to the Pernem PHC. Unfortunately, the victim had passed away,” Drishti stated.

Earlier that day, two Indian tourists from Karnataka were rescued by lifeguards at Arambol in the morning.

Leader of opposition Digambar Kamat tweeted, “Another tourist drowns in Goa. This will eventually lead to drowning of entire tourism industry. I demand immediate intervention of Goa CM to bring lifeguards under the government ambit. Be sensitive and act before it’s too late. Stop Goa (from) becoming a ‘Drowning Destination’”.