As many as eight tourists, including four from Kurubarahalli in Bengaluru, were rescued at the Panambur beach on Saturday.
While five were saved by lifeguards of the Panambur Beach Tourism Development Project, three were rescued by surfers undergoing training at the beach.
According to Yatish Baikampady, the chief executive officer of the project, many people visited Panambur beach over the last few days due to long holidays. On Saturday, the beach had a footfall of 40,000. Lifeguards had been placed at strategic points to alert tourists from venturing into the sea where there was vicious rip currents.
Mr. Baikampady said that eight tourists were caught at two different places on the beach where there were rip currents. As the lifeguards rescued at one point, the alertness of the surfers undergoing training helped save three lives. These incidents occurred between 3.30 p.m. and 5 p.m., he added.
The first to be rescued was Mahadeva Prabhu N. (24) from Shivapura in Chamarajanagar. He was among the group of four tourists who had come to the beach. This was followed by the rescue of Girija (35), Manju (37), Renuka (38) and Yogashree (18) from Kurubanahalli, who were among the group of 15 tourists who had come to the beach.
Surfers undergoing training by the Surfing Federation of India saved two women and a child, Mr. Baikampady said.
