A scorching Friday afternoon didn’t deter crowds from gathering on the sands of the Marina, opposite Vivekanandar Illam. The attraction was a captivating display of sea rescue drill by teams of the Coastal Security Group of TN Police, the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy.
The event held on the occasion of World Safety Day kickstarted with additional director general of police C. Sylendra Babu inaugurating the drill hosted by Survival Instincts, a city-based organisation dealing with safety and emergency management.
A land search and rescue on the coastline was the first drill of the day, followed by an informative drill of a shallow water rescue carried out by volunteers who had earlier enthralled the crowds by riding the waves on their surfboards. Administration of first-aid on the shore for a person rescued from high tides and transporting him for further medical aid was also demonstrated.
Two trained divers plunged into the waves of the Marina to fish out a man playing the role of a struggling swimmer who had been carried out to sea by heavy currents.
The most captivating drill, however, was the aviation rescue. An Indian Coast Guard chopper circled over a volunteer in the water and a rescuer was lowered using a cable. The choppers staged a stunning show for the audience with the rescued person pulled back into the chopper to the applause of those gathered.
