Mangalore: Swimmer K. Chandrashekar Rai Surikumeru (52), who set a record in the World Wide Book of Records by holding his breath and performing somersaults and asanas in a swimming pool, drowned in a popular swimming pool in the city on Sunday.
Chandrashekar lived in Kudroli, Chandrashekar Nagar, Surikumeru Baribarada, near Kalladka in Bantwal taluk. He is survived by his wife and daughter.
Chandrashekar, who was working as a life guard on a contract basis in a swimming pool in Udupi, was managing the swimming pool of the Mangalore Metropolitan Corporation of the city three years ago. It is learnt that he was a lifeguard and also worked as a swimming coach.
Chandrashekhar, who had given his mobile phone to the guard on Sunday morning after saying that he would practice in the swimming pool for some time. Reason of death is suffocation.
Chandrashekhar's brother Radhakrishna Rai said that the last rites were performed in his hometown after a post-mortem examination at Wenlock Hospital.
In 2023, Chandrashekhar Rai had made it to the World Wide Book of Records by doing 28 front flip somersaults in a single breath. Before that, he had made it to the India Book of Records twice.