A priest drowned while trying to save a boy who was caught in the undercurrents while taking bath in the Periyar near Kodanad, around 40 km from here, on Wednesday.
Though the boy was rescued by local people, he later died at a hospital. The deceased were identified as Fr Augustine Vairamon, 36, the priest of St. George Church, Kaduval, near Perumbavoor, and Joel Joy, 13, son of Joy, Manjali House, Koovappadi.
According to the police, the priest had arrived at the Thottuva ghat near Kodanad, an area with sandbank, along with 12 students on a picnic as part of a vacation Bible convention. “The mishap occurred at 1 p.m. when Joel and another boy were taking bath in the river. While his friend swam in the waters, Joel, who did not know swimming, tried to follow him and got caught in the undercurrents. As the other boys made a hue and cry, the priest came running and jumped into the waters to rescue the boy. However, he drowned in the act. The priest, apparently, also did not know swimming. The other boy managed to swim back to the shore,” the police said.
