Mumbai

Middle-aged Arif Bamane was among the first responders to arrive at the scene of a freak tragedy caused by a collision between a Navy speedboat and a passenger Ferry close to the gateway of India on December 18. He led his team in rescue and saved at least 30 lives, including a three-year-old and a newly-born child.

Arif is today hailed as a hero whose timely effort saved lives and is being praised by all on social media and offline.

Arif, who works as a Master (leader) of a Commercial MBT boat said on getting the distress signal and call for help, and rushed his boat to the site of collision by covering the distance that usually took him 18-20 minutes in 8 minutes.

Describing the scene, Arif told a media person, that it was a devastating scene as drowning people were crying for help. “I saw a three-year-old girl lying motionless; her lungs were filled with water. I also lifted a newly born child, who was not breathing. I quickly hung him upside down and he started beating.”

“I and my team must have rescued at least 25-30 people,” Arif said.

A total of 13 people lost their lives and 115 were rescued after a Navy craft, undergoing engine trials, lost control and collided with the passenger ferry Neel Kamal near Mumbai's Karanja at around 4 pm on Wednesday. The ferry was carrying passengers from the Gateway of India to Elephanta Island, a popular tourist destination.

Arif Bamane was out in the sea when he saw the collision between a Navy boat and ferry Neel Kamal right in front of the Gateway of India.

He saw floating heads on the waves, some people wore life jackets and they were trying to keep afloat while many were not wearing life jackets.

These people were asking for help by raising both hands on the waves. In this accident, children, old people, women, and youth saw their death up and close.

At the time of the accident, hundreds of people were diving in the water. Arif Bamane was on a boat named Porwa, a pilot boat that helps bigger boats anchor to the shores.

Most of the people at the Gateway were spectators to this devastating scene and only praying.

Arif Bamane started the rescue operation with his boat. He started taking women and children out of the waves, these were the passengers who were struggling for life and death by waving their hands and legs on the waves.

Arif Bamane's timely help was like divine intervention for them.

According to Arif Bamne, he reached the accident site with his pilot jacket and pulled the women screaming for help into the boat, gave them life jackets, and spoke to them to be courageous.

Arif's attention went to a three-year-old girl who was being tossed by strong waves around. Arif Bamne jumped into the sea and brought the girl to the boat in his arms.

ALSO READ: Assam's Shehnab returned amidst war in Syria only wanting to go back

The child was not breathing due to water filling her lungs. He laid her upside down and pumped her stomach to dewater her lungs and make them functional again. He hugged her close to his chest and resuscitated her.

For the girl’s mother, Arif was like God!