Vadodara : In an heroic act, an autorickshaw driver today rescued a 17-year-old youth from the jaws of a crocodile in Vishwamitri river. The youth, Mukesh Sakla from Madhya Pradesh, was spotted in the river which passes through the middle of the city this afternoon crying for help and saved by auto driver, Ganibhai Mohammed Sheikh after a 10-15 minute battle with the crocodile.
Narrating the incident, Sheikh said, “I saw a youth screaming for help in the river while passing over Bhimnah bridge in Sayajigunj area at around 1230 hrs. Several people had gathered on the bridge and were pelting stones at the crocodile.”
“After stopping my rickshaw, I went near the site of the river where this youth was struggling for life. I picked up an iron road from a nearby construction site and started hitting the crocodile on its head. The crocodile had clutched the youth’s left hand between its terrifying jaws.
“Soon the crocodile retreated in the river water and the youth, who was bleeding profusely, was brought out,” the 52-year-old auto driver said. Sakla was rushed to the Gujarat Government-run SSG Hospital in a municipal van by local residents and is undergoing medical treatment.
