Corporal Goran Aleksic's accomplishment
When, after his night shift as the guard of the isolated object "Klupci" at Loznica corporal Goran Aleksic took his daughter to a nearby beach on the Dtina river Branjevo, little did he know that this day planned for rest and relaxation will bring drama with a possible tragic end with two deaths instead of saving two lives. However, Lady Luck did not leave this man that day, as he was the only one willing to save a 20 year old girl from Loznica from the cold rapids of the Drina, risking his life as the river is known for its wild strength. All local, regional and national media reported the selfless act of the member of the Army of Serbia, who on 18 July proved the reputation of military uniform.
A SOLDIER IS A SOLDIER EVEN IN CIVILIAN CLOTHES
A professional soldier, corporal Goran Aleksic from Banja Koviljaca, has been a member of the Army of Serbia since 2000. He started his service in the 15th Border Battalion, after which he was reassigned to the 2nd training center in Valjevo, as a guard of the isolated object "Klupci" in the same village, a few kilometers from Loznica. 15 years in uniform has allowed Goran to live up to the morals of his profession.Corporal Aleksic planned to spend the day when the public learned of his name, in peace in the company of his daughter who wanted to swim in Drina. A few dozen meters off the banks of the Drina, Goran was sitting in the restaurant watching a common sight on the July afternoon on the beach "Branjevo."
- Then I heard from somewhere cries for help. A frightened girl screamed for someone to help her friend. I jumped from the chair and saw a hundred meters down a girl who was struggling to stay in water – as Goran remembers, adding.
- I heard someone shout that it was a joke and that the girl was not actually drowning, but it did not look like that. I ran and just before jumping into the water I had enough time to put down the car keys and cell phone. I asked a man to go with me to help her, and we swam in the direction of a girl who seemed to have surrendered to the rapids.
More than a week after the event corporal Aleksic as if reliving those few minutes where each selfishness and fear for his life drove him to help another human being in distress. Under the oath to serve Serbia, to defend it to the best of his abilities, Goran's actions were guided by the conscience of a soldier and a man’s courage.
However, his decision to risk his life that day, no one was willing to share. Even the man who swam to the drowning girl with Goran, gave up after dozens of meters.
I WAS PETRIFIED, I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DROWN BEFORE MY DAUGHTER’S EYES
However, he had no choice. Twenty-year old girl was almost exhausted, and the Drina was already carrying her to certain death. When Goran swam to her a struggle not for one but two lives ensued.
- The girl was distraught with fear. She was clutching at me frantically, she managed to sank me several times. I managed to overcome her in order to help her. I swallowed a lot of water. I was scared that I would drown in front of my daughter – as Corporal Aleksic recalls the moments when his life hung on a thread, when the Drina could bring misery to two families. The awareness that even such an event was going to cause life-long trauma and pain was what gave him the last ounce of his energy.
Having somehow managed to convince the unhappy girl to let herself go and to follow his instructions, he mustered the strength to cope with the Drina River, which was already carrying them. The only way was to get close to the banks and caught hold of the end of a fishing rod anglers offered to help
At a time when a man used all the strength he had, only good fortune may win in favour of life over death outweigh the good side or turns her head. This time it was on corporal’s side.
Goran managed to pick up a girl in order to catch the end of a fishing rod on his 3rd or 4th attempt and saved lives. Then he did it.
- When we came out of the water I felt a terrible pain in my arms, chest ... I could hardly breathe. We were alive. That was all that mattered. And it could have easily been otherwise- as Goran says.
Then the people gathered around him, he recalls, and gave "follow-up instructions" on how he should have approached his struggle to save the girl’s life.
- One man said he should have knocked her unconscious with his fist, others that he should have slapped in order to calm down ... I still do not understand what they were trying to tell me, but I know I did what I had to, as corporal Aleksic says of the accomplishment which was heard of throughout the country very quickly.
