16 years old learner, Tisekwa Gamungu rescues nine classmates from drowning

When a dhow full of pupils capsized on Lake Victoria in Tanzania, it was 16 years old Tisekwa Gamungu who was the hero and rescued nine of the pupils. The dhow had 21 pupils, and out of the nine that were rescued, three are still missing.

Gamungu who’s become an instant hero will be honoured by the Suleiman Kova Foundation which plans to give him Sh2 million, the Citizen reported. The founder of the Suleiman Kova Foundation a former Dar es Salaam Special Zone Police Commander, reportedly said on local television that Gamungu would be trained on rescue techniques.

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One social media user asked if the boy had the kind of talent Rambo has because such heroic deeds are what the movie hero portrays. Gamungu told Clouds 360 that after he rescued nine of his classmates, he went to try and rescue the remaining three, but they’d drowned. He was determined to find them but he didn’t see them.

Lake Victoria the second largest tropical fresh water lake in the world covering Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Caption Photo: Nicholas Manyolo LVEMPII-Kenya

The grade 5 pupil who lives on an island usually has to use the boat daily to school. The Tanzania Sea Rescue has invited him to their office to recognise his brave action.

Lake Victoria is found between Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and is second largest freshwater lake in the world.

A presenter at Clouds TV station, Babbie Kabae said, “For his tender age, it was not an easy job for Tisekwa to rescue nine school mates from drowning; he did a commendable job, which was supposed to have been done by an adult. He deserves praise.”

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The praise has been coming in and so has the recognition beyond the shores of Tanzania.