Surat, October 2: In a truly miraculous turn of events, a 14-year-old boy named Lakhan Devipujak from Godadara in Surat, Gujarat, has defied the odds and survived a harrowing ordeal at sea. Lakhan's incredible tale of survival began when he got swept away by high tide on Friday afternoon during the immersion of Lord Ganesha's idol at Dumas sea shore. According to multiple reports, for over 24 hours, Lakhan clung to a makeshift plywood platform, the base of a Ganesha idol used during the immersion ceremony, which ultimately became his lifeline.

The platform kept him afloat in the vast Arabian Sea, far from the safety of the coast. The miraculous rescue occurred approximately 18 nautical miles away from the coastline when a vigilant fisherman named Rasik Tandel from Bilimora, Navsari, spotted the drifting platform. Suspicion led him to approach the platform, and to his astonishment, he discovered young Lakhan clinging to it for dear life. Gujarat Tragedy: Man, Nephew Drown During Ganpati Idol Immersion in Rajkot Dam (Watch Video).

Lakhan's disappearance had triggered a frantic search effort by his family, who filed a missing person report at Dumas. However, hope had begun to wane as time passed, and many had feared the worst. Lakhan's rescue has captured the imagination of the community and beyond, with well-wishers and even local leaders extending their support. Gujarat Crane Accident Video: Several Injured After Crane Collapses During Ganesh Visarjan Near Halol's Vadatalav Lake.

Gujarat BJP Chief and local Lok Sabha Member CR Patil personally visited Lakhan in the hospital and encouraged him to make the most of his newfound lease on life by excelling in his studies and aspiring to become a doctor. Lakhan Devipujak's astonishing survival story serves as a testament to human resilience and the unexpected twists of fate, with Lord Ganpati playing an unwitting role in saving his life.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 02, 2023 12:58 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).