‘Hope rescued’ – SLAF, Navy peace-time joint operation
July 21, 2010 06:03 pm
A frequent visitor to the eastern town of Trincomalee narrated this story to AdaDerana this morning. A former Sri Lanka Air Force officer, he witnessed a peace-time ‘humanitarian operation’ by the Sri Lanka Air Force life guard and a Sri Lanka Navy patrol boat.
The incident happened yesterday at Marble Beach near the SLAF base at China Bay in Trincomalee. The time was around 1.30 in the afternoon. The incident highlighted the chivalry and gallantry of the Sri Lankan armed forces still ingrained within them even after the long battles with the terrorists which they won last year.
Some kids, enjoying a holiday on the Marble Beach were playing with a blue ball. Suddenly, one kid missed a catch and the ball flew towards the sea. Their efforts to retrieve the ball proved futile.
A SLAF life guard on duty saw the plight of the children and even without anybody urging him, jumped into the sea and swam towards the floating ball, which by now was moving further towards the horizon. He swam quite a distance but alas, nature seemed to take the better of him. The distance was becoming too long and the currents too strong. The gallant SLAF life guard had to give up the chase and swim back towards shore.
But hope arrived under another guise. A Sri Lanka Navy patrol boat had seen the life guard’s vain attempt to retrieve the beach ball. The boat did a detour, retrieved the blue beach ball from the sea and sailed towards shore. Smiles of happiness broke out on the kids’ faces. They started clapping and jumping up and down on the sandy beach.
But alas! The patrol boat had to stop a long way off the shore as it could not reach land to hand over the ball to the cheering kids anyway.
All hopes were lost?
No. Even though the SLAF life guard who had swam after the ball earlier was tired after his first effort, he just jumped into the sea again, all tiredness apparently being erased by the children’s happiness. He swam up to the Sri Lanka Navy patrol boat and the sailors handed over the ball to him. He swam back to shore and triumphantly gave the blue beach ball to the kids.
A retired Sri Lanka Air Force Wing Commander, Raju Laxana witnessed this incident and reported it to AdaDerana as this ‘rescue operation’ is worthy of mention, particularly to highlight the compassion and humanitarian nature of fellow Sri Lankans.
Lost hope can always be rescued when we have such gallant individuals who rise to the occasion as a team. Well done Sri Lanka Air Force, well done Sri Lanka Navy!
