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MANGALORE: Australian engineer Aaron Salyer provided a silver lining to a tragic incident in which two persons drowned off the Mogaveera Patna beach, Ullal on Wednesday evening by rescuing at least two persons from certain death. Mehrunnisa, 60, and Mushtaq, 14, drowned in the incident.

Salyer, 28, works for the Sustainable Coastal Protection and Management Investment Programme (SCPMIP) being implemented by the state Karnataka along with the Asian Development Bank to address a host of issues, including sea erosion.

On hearing screams for help, Aaron jumped into the sea and rescued Shakeela Banu, 25, and Khatunnisa, 30. Local fishermen rescued two others. Aaron said: "I just happened to be at the right spot at the right time."

Aaron told TOI: "I was at the work site inspection work when we heard people screaming. I ran to the beach and saw bodies floating in the sea. I jumped into the water and grabbed as many persons as I could and pushed them ashore. Some local people also rushed to the rescue. One woman’s head was down in the water and I flipped her onto her back and brought her ashore. Of the two women I rescued, one was breathing but the other was not. I performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation and she started breathing.’’

The drama was not over. A person was screaming that his son was missing. Aaron plunged back into the water but couldn’t find anyone.

Aaron, a good swimmer, said the sea is pretty scary at Ullal in the monsoon. He arrived in India a couple of weeks ago. This, incidentally, is his second rescue attempt. A couple of days ago, he had saved another woman from drowning and performed CPR.

Aaron said "After a few steps into the water, the water depth suddenly increases. It’s very steep and the waves breaking up the slope have powerful, retracting back currents and suck persons into the sea,’’ he said. He urged local fishermen and police to warn tourists from venturing into the water during the monsoon.

Tragic Tour : It was a religious tour that went horribly wrong for the group of 25 persons from four families from Madhavaram, Cuddapah in Andhra Pradesh.

They had come to Ullal Dargah on Wednesday evening after going to Baba Budangiri, Chikmagalur on Tuesday. They were to leave for Mysore on Thursday.

Ullal police said a huge wave engulfed the tourists and swept away seven persons. Those rescued by Aaron and local fishermen are being treated at a private hospital in Thkkottu while Munni, 20, was treated as an outpatient. The families have been provided shelter at the dargah.