Story By: Georgina Jadikovska, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency: Newsflash
A young Nigerian who was studying in Russia has lost his life while trying to rescue a young girl drowning in the Baltic Sea.
Nigerian Eluemunor Richard Okazia, 26, who had come to Russia in order to study Manufacturing Automation Management, died trying to rescue a drowning girl in the city of Kaliningrad Region on 17th July 2021.
Richard lived in the Kaliningrad Region for over two years, and had recently married the woman of his dreams, while studying at the Faculty of Computer Science.
According to local media (Pravmir), he was actively involved in music and sports events and was considered kind, talented and a very reliable friend.
On the day of the incident, the 26-year-old man was relaxing at the Zelenogradsk seaside resort along with his wife Natalia and friend, when they heard the girl’s cries for help and saw her being carried away from the shore and disappearing inside the deep water.
Along with his friend and two more people, Richard dove into the water and was the first one that reached the drowning girl, who he then pushed towards the shore and out of the current.
Richard’s professor Marina Vasilievna Gavrilova explained how the incident happened by saying: “Richard swam to her first, pushed her out of the current. Then the rest of the guys swam and pushed her to the shore.”
The student then started swimming towards the shore himself, however, according to the professor he was “covered by a wave, and he disappeared.”
The brave man disappeared for a whole day before his body washed up ashore during the night on 18th July.
Local media did not report whether the rescued girl made any comments regarding the incident.
