An 18-year-old lifeguard saved the life of a tourist who was the victim of a kitesurfing accident .
The episode occurred on Thursday on the beach of Is Solinas, in Masainas , and was announced by the mayor of the town Gian Luca Pittoni.
A 51-year-old German camper, a kitesurfing enthusiast who has been frequenting the area for years, fell into the water and was unable to get up again, with the strong wind making the situation critical .
Francesco Pinna, 18, from San Giovanni Suergiu, on his second day as a lifeguard for the sea rescue service coordinated by the Jamaican Beach kiosk, saw what happened and didn't think twice. Dismissing the idea of reaching him by pedal boat, he decided to dive in and swim to him . With the help of other lifeguards, he managed to bring him back to shore. There, while the emergency number was raised, lifesaving measures began. The man was then taken to Brotzu for checkups, and thanks to the young lifeguard's actions, he is safe and sound.
Pinna, a student at Angioy in Carbonia, was about to finish his shift when he saw the accident and didn't hesitate to dive in. He earned his certification in June, under the guidance of Davide Pala, an instructor at the Portoscuso municipal swimming pool.
"If Francis hadn't been so attentive and present for that man, the consequences could have been much worse. He saw, he understood, he acted with clarity, courage, and a presence that can't be improvised," the mayor wrote on social media, emphasizing that the young man was a "hero" and that his attentiveness and professionalism, despite his young age, "made the difference."
"My heartfelt congratulations to Francesco Pinna, a model of responsibility, courage, and dedication to the sea and to the lives of others," the mayor concluded.
(Unioneonline/L)
