Around 11.15 a.m., on Wednesday, police constable R. Saravanan noticed that an elderly woman was drowning off Marina Beach. Thanks to the All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) he was riding, he was able to save her in a matter of seconds.
Considering the effectiveness of the vehicle, the city police will be procuring four more ATVs for Marina and Elliots Beach. “If not for this vehicle, I would not have been able to able to save the woman, who was attempting suicide,” he said.
Saravanan initially thought the woman was bathing. “But then I saw her head bobbing up and down. I switched on the siren in the vehicle, signalling the fishermen to help, and started speeding towards her. As there was no one else on the shore, I left the bike and swam to her rescue,” he recalled.
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Every week, at least one incident of drowning is reported in the 4-km-stretch between Light House and Napier Bridge. Saravanan and his colleagues, who patrol this stretch on the ATV on a shift basis from 7 a.m. to 10.30 p.m., have saved many people from drowning.
“We also double up as counsellors. We first try to understand what their problems are and then offer necessary advice. Most of them attempt suicide due to family problems or relationship issues,” says R. Ramana, another policeman who rides the ATV.
The vehicle-borne group has also been useful in crime prevention and identifying runaway children. “People desist from committing crimes on the beach upon hearing the vehicle siren. It will be very useful if there are more such ATV’s,” said the police personnel.
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Senior police officers said that proposals have been sent to the government for procuring four more ATVs. “Two will be used in Elliots Beach and two on Marina. They can travel at a maximum speed of 120 kmph,” the officer added.