Visakh and Sachin near the canal. Photo: OnmanoramaKollam: Being a native of water-abundant village of Kura in Pathanapuram, swimming used to be the favorite pastime of 17-year-old Visakh. But he had never imagined using his swimming prowess to save lives; until he heard the frantic calls for help from the canal near his house.
The little ones who cried out for help told Visakh that their friend and an elderly lady had been washed away while trying to cross the canal. Dived into the canal, Visakh spotted Sachin (8), who was stuck in the wedge of a concrete slab placed over the canal, first. He pulled Sachin out and carried him to the banks.
By then, Vijayakumari Amma (56), had been washed away a good 100 meters down the canal. Although Visakh caught her, the 17-year-old had to swim with all his might to keep afloat carrying the weight. Vijayakumari had fractured her leg making the rescue even more difficult for Visakh. However, he managed to pull her also to safety.
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Sachin had no major injuries, but Vijayakumari Amma was taken to Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital for treatment. Sachin, son of Santhosh from Mannankonam in Thalavoor, was on his way back from school and Vijayakumar Amma was returning from work when they fell into the canal.
As for Visakh, he insisted that he was perfectly fine and suffered no injuries. He only had 'a tough time carrying Vijayakumari to the shore as the rains had filled the canal to capacity and the current was strong'.
