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Published: November 13th 2007
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N. Goa
Sunset, Asvem beach, second night Goa- Day 4
On the second day on the beach, was contemplating leaving the area, given the mixed experience in the lonesome resort the night before. While taking a long walk up the coast ran into a very nice spot in small alcove filled with palm trees. This area is on the Asvem Beach and is shared by three or four separate small shack resorts, all of which are quite atmospheric. Rock Bite is the place in which I stayed. It is located on a slightly elevated area right off the beach. It has a very nice restaurant, with outstanding seafood. The place has a very relaxed and chill atmosphere; the elevated shack in which I stayed faces the beach directly, and has a shaded patio facing the water, all for the amazing price of 12 us dollars.
The beaches in this area are nothing short of outstanding. In the heat of the day, it is much more comfortable to be in the water than staying out. The greenish appearing water is not as clear as those are in the Caribbean, but very inviting. The waves are usually gentle and the water quite warm. But, a day later I
N. Goa, Asvem Beach
Veiw from the Shack patio find that they are not that gentle all the time.
Goa Day 5.
Around five PM the sound of a guy is heard in low tides a couple of hundred yards from the beach screaming for help. The guy had swum out when the water was beginning to get choppy and the wind had just picked up. He could easily be spotted from the restaurant, where a bunch of people were sitting. To all the folks watching on the beach one thing was clear: the guy was freakin. The restaurant is located on a small alcove on elevated ground made with landfill on a bunch of huge rocks. These rocks also extend way into the water and separate two major beaches from one another. The currents are tricky facing the rocks and folks don’t often venture into this area.
Evidently the guy was trying to bypass the rocky area and swim to the other beach. He was unexpectedly caught unaware of the tricky waters and the low tide and had gotten into trouble. Two Britons, Ronny, and Andy who were sitting on the beach heard him. They immediately jumped in. The owner and the manager were also
N. Goa, Asvem Beach
Early morning walk. notified, but there was no boat, nor a life tube to be found on the perimeses.
Both these guys had had a few beers while lounging on the beach, but instinctively responded as the guy's call for help was intensifying. One of the guys, Ronnie, is an experienced surfer dude with a ponytail from Southern England with no apparent fear of the sea. They swam out towards him, but they found the guy struggling, and later said that he had a terrified blank face, and was not responding to commands appropriately; he just kept calling help, please.
At this time Ronnie started to feel light headed and started to swim back; Andy also followed suit realizing that given the shape he was in he could not do much either. Besides both in fact started to freak a little themselves, as they said later, when they reached the guy. The waters were choppy and the tides were strong. Andy had inhaled a lot of seawater on the way out.
The guy's calls for help intensified even further as the two left, as though he was beginning to lose hope. At this time two Russian guys swam behind him;
the bigger of the two started literally pushing him towards the coast. One strong push after the other, whatever it would take to take him to the shallow waters. He dared not hold him, as he might push him down. He did not speak much English, but repeatedly kept saying: SWIM.
After a few tense minutes he did make it to shallow waters; he was leaning on the big Russian's shoulder, while walking out of the water. While on the shore he gave him a tight embrace, exchanged a few words, and then went and sat in a corner.
After he had composed himself he was seen walkin into the restaurant where a small crowd had gathered. By this time, Ronnie had collapsed, and his wife was freaking out. Apparently Ronny had had more than a few (beers) before he exerted himself in that way; to be exact, he had had at least 4 ounces of alcohol and was also a big time smoker. His pressure had evidently dropped. I checked his pulse and breathing. His skin was warm and he was breathing regularly; pulse was a bit faint however.
We called for and ambulance immediately. Through
N. Goa, Asvem Beach
Lounging under the shade, last day, just before sunset. all this Ronny kept going in and out of consciousness; each time he did this, his body went through an unusual contractions that made some suspect he was having seizures. His wife by now was beside herself. It was ironic and surreal that the person who was a few minutes ago nearly drowning was also now a part of the group trying to revive the guy who had just tried to save him.
A doctor came and saw him; he was not too concerned; his blood pressure was low and was apparently having a mild heat stroke, exacerbated by alcohol. I was not too concerned either, to be frank. Ambulance was no where to be found. The guy's condition did improve with the steroid shot the Doc had injected him and within an hour he sitting upright arguing with his wife whether he should go to the hospital. He did end up going to the hospital with a taxi and was discharged after he got some IV fluids. The next day he was back, drinking beers, enjoying his vacation.
If by now you are wondering what I was doing all this while other than trying to revive Ronny?
Well, I should probably add that I was the American tourist Ronny had jumped in to rescue.
Now, off to the South.
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