6-year-old Russian girl attacked by stray dog in South Goa

Panaji: The long Easter weekend saw a six-year-old Russian girl attacked by a stray dog at Betalbatim. “The Russian girl, who was playing at the beach with her parents, was scratched severely by a stray dog. An on-duty lifesaver rushed to her aid and cleaned her wound before her parents took the girl to a doctor for medical attention,” said Drishti Marine in a statement.

The South Goa coastline has seen several instances where packs of stray dogs have attacked tourists along the beach. Last week, a 19-month-old girl was mauled to death by a pack of stray dogs at Ponda.

Lifesavers also reported just two instances of near-drowning. One was a 28-year-old man from Hyderabad who was rescued from the Baga river. The other was a 54-year-old woman from the United Kingdom who was swimming off Talpona beach when she got caught in a rip current. Drishti Marine lifesaver Nagraj Girap spotted her in distress and brought her ashore.

A man suffered spinal injuries at Baina beach over the long weekend when he was climbing aboard a fibreglass boat just off the beach. The boat operator rushed the man ashore, where Drishti Marine lifesavers used a spine board to stabilise him. The tourist was handed over to paramedics from the 108 service, who rushed him to the hospital. Aside from the tourist who suffered spinal injuries, lifeguards also had to provide medical care to three other individuals.

At Morjim, a tourist dislocated his shoulder while playing in the water, while a 22-year-old woman from Bengaluru twisted her foot on Palolem beach and required assistance. A 34-year-old man from Karnataka was bruised after being struck and pummelled by a wave.