Returning from the jaws of death

It is like coming back to life from the doorstep of death. Shahadat Hossain Shahin, an ex-army man, cannot believe it. Shahadat, a contractor of Bagerhat district town, survived and returned home after the capsize of ‘Pinak-6’ launch in Padma River near Mawa Ferry Ghat on Monday. It was a hard battle for the soldier to win against strong currents of the Mighty Padma. However, Shahadat ultimately won – he had to swim in the middle of the river for at least 10 minutes before one of the speed boats that rushed from Mawa Ghat to the place of the capsize and spotted him. ‘I had lost all my strength and my body frozen. I just managed to float on the waves for about 10 minutes. Two-three minutes more would have meant death for me. Now it’s like a new life that I have been awarded,’ Shahadat said. Shahadat had become senseless when the speed boat arrived and the rescuers pulled him out of the river. He came to his senses minutes later and the boat safely carried him to the shore, according to a news agency.