Kozhikode man injured by discarded syringes in river during rescue, misses territorial army rally

Kozhikode: Twenty-four-year-old Adithyan K had been preparing for months to attend the territorial army recruitment rally scheduled for Friday in Karnataka. But as he lies on a cot at his home in Kunnanari, Ottakkandam, near Nadery in Koyilandy, his left leg in plaster, he knows the dream will have to wait.

He was injured while helping rescue a 28-year-old man who jumped into the Muthambi river from the nearby bridge on November 23. He is now bedridden with a torn ligament and a foot injury caused by discarded syringes used by drug addicts.

“It was my dream to be a military man. I had planned to attend the rally, but my health condition won’t allow it now,” he said softly.

“I don’t know whether I will be able to attend another territorial army rally in future. A paramilitary recruitment drive will be announced soon as well, but with this sprained ligament that also won’t be possible. The doctor has advised five months’ rest.”

The attempt to save a life has cost him dearly.

“When I was passing by, I saw a man hanging onto a rope thrown from the bridge. One of my acquaintances was trying to pull him into a boat, but it kept tilting dangerously. I ran down to the riverside and jumped into the water to help the man. I landed on a pile of stones under the river, and my leg slipped between them, tearing my ligament,” he recalled.

As he attempted to stabilise himself, two syringes lying under the water pierced his left foot — one from below and another from behind. “A piece of a rusted syringe is still inside my leg. It has to be removed through surgery,” he said. He added that the presence of used syringes in the river shows that drug users frequent the area, making it unsafe for locals.

Despite the pain and the setback, Adithyan says he has no regrets. “All this happened while trying to save a life. That gives me some relief,” he said. He hopes to revive his military ambitions once he recovers.

The timely intervention of passers-by saved the youth who jumped into the river. One of the residents had thrown a rope from the bridge, which the man held on to until a boat reached him.