By Sunil Singh 
Goa, India – What started as a quiet beach getaway for 41-year-old Ajay R., a logistics manager from Pune, turned into an act of real-life heroism when he saved a drowning child from the rough waters of Benaulim Beach.
It was late on a Sunday afternoon, and the beach was beginning to clear out. Ajay, enjoying a rare weekend break, sat sipping lime soda near a food stall when he heard cries coming from the sea. At first, he thought it was playful shouting—until he saw people pointing frantically at the waves.
A young boy, no older than 9, was caught in a sudden riptide, his small arms flailing before vanishing beneath the surf.
“I didn’t think. I just ran.”
Ajay sprinted across the beach and dove in fully clothed. Battling strong currents and cramping legs, he managed to grab the boy and keep him afloat until others onshore formed a human chain and pulled them both back.
The boy, named Kavin, had lost consciousness by the time they reached land. Ajay, guided by a bystander, performed CPR until the boy coughed up water and began to cry—drawing a round of applause from the shaken crowd.
“I wasn’t trying to be a hero. I just hoped someone would do the same for my child.”
Kavin made a full recovery after being taken to the hospital. His family, overwhelmed with gratitude, later invited Ajay to Chennai to thank him personally. He declined gifts and praise, asking only that others be ready to help when it matters most.
The moment was captured on video by a tourist and quickly went viral, with thousands hailing Ajay as a symbol of everyday courage.