Mangaluru: At the rugged shoreline of Someshwara Beach, a routine family outing turned into a gripping tale of courage, where a teenager’s quick instinct stood between life and tragedy.

The incident took place on Friday evening, when 10-year-old Mohammed Arshman, enjoying the beach with relatives—mostly women and children—was suddenly swept into the sea after slipping unnoticed into the waves.

As panic began to spread, 16-year-old Ismail Faaiz spotted what had happened. Without pausing for a moment, he rushed forward and dived into the rough waters. The waves were strong and relentless, but Faaiz pushed through, reaching his cousin and holding him firmly above the surface.

For nearly 10 to 15 minutes, he struggled against the force of the sea, using all his strength to keep Arshman afloat. Back on shore, confusion gave way to action as a few bystanders stepped in to help. A human chain was formed, and shawls tied together were thrown toward the boys.

Faaiz missed the makeshift lifeline twice. On the third attempt, while still clutching Arshman, he managed to grab hold of it. Moments later, exhausted beyond his limits, he lost consciousness.

Both boys were eventually pulled to safety. Arshman escaped without injury, but Faaiz had to be rushed to a nearby hospital in an unconscious state. After being kept under observation for 24 hours, he has now been shifted to a room and is expected to be discharged soon.

Fahiz’s father, Ashraf Mudipu, who was not present at the scene, later learned of his son’s ordeal. Filled with gratitude, he said the family hopes to find and thank the locals who stepped in at the critical moment.

Faaiz, who recently completed his SSLC examinations with 509 marks, now looks ahead to pursuing science in PUC. But for many, his actions at the beach have already defined him—not just as a student with promise, but as a young life-saver who refused to let go.