A man pulled from the sea at Babe Beach had his life saved by off-duty doctors and the Novalja Emergency Medical Team, despite extremely challenging conditions on the rocky beach.
On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, a real-life drama unfolded at Babe Beach in Novalja when a man was pulled from the sea with no signs of life. A desperate fight for his life began immediately, lasting approximately 40 minutes, and ultimately ended in success, the victim's pulse was restored.
At around 11:45 AM, as soon as the man was brought ashore, resuscitation began. Among the bathers on the beach were several healthcare workers who were off duty but did not hesitate for a moment. Among them were a cardiologist and an anesthesiologist, who, along with another healthcare worker who was there privately, immediately rushed to help.
The event was reported by the Facebook page Hitna uživo 194, sharing the testimony of that healthcare worker. "Several of us who happened to be there, although not on duty, rushed to help," the post read.
Upon the arrival of the Novalja Emergency Medical Team, resuscitation continued with combined efforts. The healthcare worker described the conditions under which the battle for life took place: "In truly difficult conditions, at 38°C, on a rocky beach, in swimsuits, and without the usual working conditions."
Despite all the difficulties, they managed to secure intravenous access, and after approximately 40 minutes of resuscitation, the man's pulse was restored.
"From the people who happened to be on the beach, to the doctors who were there privately, and all the way to the Novalja EMT team, today, we were all one team. Special praise to the Novalja EMT team, you were truly top-notch! I'm proud that, even though we weren't on duty, we didn't think for a second but did what we know and what needed to be done. Bravo, everyone," the healthcare worker wrote in the post.
The dramatic rescue moments were captured on camera by photographer Zvonko Kucelin. His photos bear witness to the extraordinary effort of everyone involved in the rescue, which, according to participants, turned an ordinary beach into the scene of a heroic struggle for a human life.
