Karate instructor Mario Kalloo is accustomed to swimming 200 metres out at sea as part of his daily exercise regime.
Challenging himself, Kalloo went beyond where he usually stops in the water at Macqueripe Bay and found himself in difficulty, resulting in him spending 12 agonising hours in a dark, insect-infested cave before help came his way.
Recalling his ordeal yesterday at the St Augustine Karate Dojo and Keep Fit Centre where he teaches martial arts, Kalloo admitted he was lucky to be alive.
“I have to thank God,” he said, clasping his hands and giving praise to the Almighty.
Describing himself as a recreational swimmer, Kalloo, 63, a former principal of the Blanchisseuse Secondary School and vice principal of St Anthony’s College, went to the beach on Friday to take his evening dip.
“I have been going to Macqueripe for over 40 years to swim,” he said.
After making a few laps across the bay “from a cave to the other side,” Kalloo said he got a burst of energy and decided to go further out in the water.
That decision almost cost him his life.
“When I went out I didn’t realise there was a strong current at that point. Honestly, I have never had the experience of getting into a strong current before.”
In an attempt to get back to shore, Kalloo got into difficulties.
“The water kept pushing me further out...about 500 metres. I know my strength....you don’t take chances unnecessarily. I realised I could not swim through it. I looked for a way out...and the way out was a cave close by.”
Panicking and scared, Kalloo said he composed himself and swam to the cave.
As darkness began to fall, Kalloo said he walked up a track which was covered in grass but did not see anyone.
“I called out for help. But no one was around. I went back into the water to get out but it was too rough. The water kept tumbling me.”
The father of two said he was slammed repeatedly against several rocks and realised it was too dangerous to swim in the direction he came.
Kalloo admitted that he had found himself in deep waters.
At that point, Kalloo said he knew his only safe haven was the cave where he had to spend the night.
“I was in that cave from 6 pm on Friday to 6 am on Saturday. What was going through my mind was my family who had not seen me for so many hours and what they were thinking. I had hoped to leave the beach by 5 pm to go home. But things did not turn out as planned. Sometimes things come to you and you have to deal with them. You have to learn from your experience.”
Worried and scared, Kalloo said he stayed awake in the cave as sand flies feasted on his exhausted body.
“After a certain time, I stopped looking at my watch. I saw two helicopters and a few boats pass by. I waved at them but did not grab their attention.”
In his darkest hour, Kalloo said he also did a lot of introspection, meditated and prayed.
“I also did some martial arts,” he said jokingly.
Kalloo said he was not hungry because he practices intermittent fasting.
“I would normally fast for 16 hours at a time.”
When Kalloo did not show up at his Valsayn home, his worried wife called the police and the Hunters Search and Rescue Team led by Vallance Rambharat who combed the beachfront but they came up empty-handed.
At the crack of dawn on Saturday, Kalloo’s brother-in-law John Horsfal used a kayak and went in search of him.
“The minute I saw John coming towards me I felt so relieved and happy. I knew help would have come.”
Having survived his ordeal, Kalloo said he was faced with another shocker when he found out that someone had broken into his car while he was stranded on the beach.
The thief stole his cellphone and wallet which contained his driver’s permit and ID card.
Luckily, the perpetrator did not find his money which was hidden in his car.
Having learnt from his experience, Kalloo said he would still swim in Macqueripe but would avoid the danger zone.
