A 55-year-old natural born lifesaver

Agra:  River lifeguard Satish Chandra is like Mitch Buchannon from American TV show Baywatch.

However, Chandra is 55 years old and has received hardly any recognition despite saving 50 lives in 33 years in the job.

"Every time I jump into the river to save a drowning person I risk my life, but I really don't care," said Chandra, who works at the Central Water Commission's monitoring station in Agra's Poiya Ghat on the banks of the Yamuna.

"I'm focused on saving the person.

"What I did was my call of duty, ordained by the divine power that fuels me and makes me work like a machine, pulling out people in the nick of time."

Faced with an emergency, he has his technique nailed down.

"Normally I hit the water with full power to make way and then I forcibly lift the person," he said.

"Sometimes the drowning person can endanger your own life by clutching desperately to you, then you have to force him deep down so that he releases you instantly.

"I cannot bear the sight of someone drowning before my eyes. In Chambal, Ganga, Yamuna, Khari and Banas — wherever I have been on duty, I have saved people.

"It gives me immense satisfaction."

And, despite his age, keeping an eye on a situation comes naturally to him.

"Yes, my body is growing old but my spirit or ‘josh' has not waned," he said.

"Whenever there is some mela or pooja on the river banks, my eyes are focused on the water, scanning and keeping a track of everyone."