Viral video shows man struggling to escape rough sea at Gateway of India
A viral video has emerged online showing a man performing a backflip into the turbulent monsoon sea at the Gateway of India in Mumbai, where he struggled against powerful waves before successfully pulling himself back to safety. The dramatic footage has sparked widespread warnings about the dangers of entering the sea during rough weather.
The two-minute-long video shows the man jumping off the protective wall into the rough tidal waters. After entering the sea, he is seen swimming toward a ramp near the wall while being repeatedly pushed back by strong waves. Although he managed to reach a rope fixed near the ramp, the high tide swept him back multiple times. He eventually succeeded in pulling himself out of the water and walking away safely.
The clip was shared on social media by Samajwadi Party National Spokesperson Jitendra Verma, who described the incident as a cautionary tale. Verma stated that the man "paid a heavy price" for attempting the stunt and barely managed to save his life after battling the turbulent waters.
The video was originally uploaded on the official Instagram account of Nazim Sheikh, where it amassed more than 1.8 million views and over 56,000 likes.
While many social media users criticized the act as reckless and warned against attempting such stunts during the monsoon, several others identified the man in the video as Sheikh. According to online comments, Sheikh is a local resident known for rescuing people from the sea near the Gateway of India. One social media user wrote that Sheikh has allegedly saved hundreds of lives over the past 16 years and regularly enters the water as part of his rescue efforts.
While the identity of the man was disclosed by netizens, the exact circumstances surrounding the video remain unverified. The incident has prompted authorities to reiterate warnings urging the public to avoid going close to the shoreline or venturing into the sea during the monsoon, when currents and high tides remain highly unpredictable.
