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Female diving instructor rescues stranded tourist outside reef line
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Posted on Feb 12 2009
A female dive instructor rescued a tourist who got stranded outside the reef line at Obyan Beach Monday afternoon.
The Department of Public Safety commended the dive instructor, Ranko Oryog of the Aqua Marine Dive Shop, for “her exceptional bravery and help in rescuing the victim.”
The victim, Pavel Barbanakov, 48, Russian, had no injuries and refused to be taken to the hospital.
DPS spokesperson Lei Ogumoro said yesterday that on Monday at 1:57pm, DPS received a report of a stranded swimmer at Obyan Beach.
Boating Safety officers boarded two jet skis and left Sugar Dock to proceed to the area.
Ogumoro said that when the officers arrived, Barbanakov had already been rescued by Oryog, who was diving in the area.
Oryog brought the tourist to the diving boat anchored at the Obyan dive spot.
The officers transported the victim from the boat to the beach where they interviewed him.
Ogumoro quoted Barbanakov as saying that he, his wife and sin went to Obyan Beach to snorkel.
While Barbanakov was swimming near the reef line, a strong current pulled him outside the reef. He attempted to swim back, but the current was too strong.
