Mangalore: They have saved over 300 precious lives from drowning in the past one decade and this has been done mostly by risking their lives by swimming against the current.

All these Good Samaritans of the beach are members of Shivaji Lifeguards Association, an organization of young men, mostly fishermen, who are ready to plunge into the seas to rescue anyone from drowning at any time of the day or night.

The Association presently has an own building on the Ullal beach, thanks to the generosity of locals who have contributed for the cause.

For these men, the life saving mission is a hobby but it is a wonderful hobby that is of great help in times of distress. Some of the members of this Association recall how they could manage to save as many as 21 out of the 24 sailors on board the Den Den which had capsized off the Tannirbavi coast a few years ago.

However, it is glaring that these young men lack the proper safety equipment, at a time when they are risking their own lives while saving that of others.

The very idea of forming an organization like this came up when the young fishermen noticed how they happened to save people from drowning often. Particularly, in the absence of any police guard in the beach, tourists from outside are tempted to enter the waters many a time getting drowned, not realizing the depth of the water.

An organization thus came up in 1989 with some fishermen coming forward to be a part of it. Presently, it has over 60 fishermen and in 2000, it came up with a concrete building on Ullal beach to replace its old building of thatched roof.

Still, the Association lacks proper communication equipment which is very essential for them while on a rescue mission.

One of the members of the Association says they might have saved at least one man from drowning almost every month.

The Shivaji Lifeguards Association in Ullal is certainly doing a commendable work and there is a need to form such organizations even in other beaches of the district.