Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 05: Heavy rains in Kerala have caused severe flooding in Devaranadu, and a tragic incident has been reported in which a swimming coach lost his life while rescuing a person trapped in the flood.
Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Wednesday paid emotional tributes to swimming coach R. Rajesh, who lost his life while rescuing a person trapped in the flood near the Meenthulli island in Kannur district.
Rajesh, a swimming coach, gave his own life jacket to the person he saved from the overflowing Karyangode river and ultimately sacrificed his own life.
While taking a 61-year-old local resident Benny, who was swept away in the floodwaters, to the shore, Rajesh got caught in the strong current of the overflowing Karyangode river and got washed away. His body was found on Tuesday.
Rajesh who gave his life jacket and sacrificed his life:
CM Satheeshan said that this incident is very heartbreaking. He recalled that Rajesh had previously participated in rescue operations as a volunteer during the Kerala floods and the Wayanad disaster.
“Rajesh gave his own life jacket to save a drowning man in Pulingom, Kannur. He later succumbed to the flood waters. His ultimate sacrifice and selfless love for humanity will always be remembered. My condolences to his family, friends and loved ones. His courage will always live on,” the Chief Minister said in an ex-post. BJP state president Rajeev Chandrashekhar, who hails from Thiruvananthapuram, also condoled the death of Rajesh.
He said that Rajesh had served as a true leader in the 2018 Kerala floods, the 2024 Wayanad landslide disaster and the 2026 floods.
Expert swimmer Rajesh
“R. Rajesh, a resident of Kalliyur in Thiruvananthapuram, used to rush to duty whenever Kerala needed him, both as a rescue volunteer and a rappelling coach. He served at the forefront in the 2018 floods, the 2024 Wayanad landslide disaster and the 2026 floods. He finally sacrificed his life.
His courage, selfless service and sacrifice will always be remembered in the history of Kerala. My condolences to his wife Lakshmi, sons Arshan and Abhishek, parents Rajasekharan and Geetha, and the entire family. May God give them the strength to bear this grief,” Chandrashekhar said.
Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Pinarayi Vijayan also condoled the death of swimming coach Rajesh on Tuesday.