KARACHI, Aug 26: At least six people were rescued from drowning in the sea and around 40 stung by blue bottle or injured by hitting sea rocks were provided first aid by KMC life guards and city wardens posted at Hawkesbay, Sandspit and Seaview on Sunday, said a KMC statement.

The statement added that one of the six rescued people was in a serious condition because of injuries he received when he hit rocks while drowning and sea water in the stomach.

The man belonged to a North Karachi area was instantly taken to a hospital in an ambulance, the statement added.

The city wardens and life guards posted at the Hawkesbay had warned him from going into the deep water, but he did not listen to them and quarreled with the guards and ran into the sea and suddenly began drowning, the statement said.

The life guards immediately jumped in to rescue him, but since he had gone far ahead in the water, it took guards some time to reach him and bring him to safety. The sea water had entered his stomach and he had also hit rocks, the statement added.

The statement said that 40-year-old Zarina and 12-year-old Wahid had been rescued at Sandspit while two women, Naseem and Shahjahan, and Abdul Karim were rescued at the Hawkesbay.

The statement said that at least 40 people stung by blue bottle or who had hit rocks were also provided first aid.

Keeping in view the holiday of Sunday, the KMC had deputed 300 rescuers at Hawkesbay, Sandspit and Seaview and the city wardens and the life guards were asking picnickers not to venture far into the sea water owing to rough conditions, but most of the people were not listening to them and forcing their entry into the water, the KMC statement said.

KMC municipal commissioner Matanat Ali Khan and other senior officials, including Dr Saukat Zaman, Nauman Arshad, Mohammad Mairaj, Ehtishamuddin and others visited the seaside areas to monitor the situation and the performance of city wardens and life guards.