Hero drowned saving two children from drowning at raging waterfall on holiday

23 September 2023 , 14:28

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Mohananeethan Muruganantharajah (pictured) was dragged under the water at Sgwd y Pannwr in Bannau Brycheiniog, also known as the Brecon Beacons (Image: WALES NEWS SERVICE)

A hero who died when he became trapped underwater after rescuing two children from drowning gave his life helping others, an inquest has heard.

Mohananeethan Muruganantharajah, known as Mohan, from Swansea, was on holiday in the Brecon Beacons with family when he went to the aid of two children who had got into difficulty at a waterfall. Mohan saved the two youngsters after he raced into the water at Sgwd Y Pannwr waterfall to rescue them. He was with his two nieces, who then watched in horror as Sri Lankan-born Mr Muruganantharajah was dragged under the surface.

The hearing in Pontypridd was told Mr Muruganantharajah became stuck under a ledge during the tragic incident on September 2, however his body was not recovered by divers until the following day. People at the scene and rescue teams tried to help but he could not be saved. Eventually authorities used underwater cameras to locate his body. A hearing in Pontypridd was told a pathologist who carried out a post-mortem examination was not able to give a cause of death. South Wales Central area coroner Patricia Morgan adjourned the inquest to a date to be fixed to allow further investigation.

Two children were pulled from the river in the Bannau Brycheiniog - also known as the Brecon Beacons - but Mohan had disappeared from view (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

A qualified pilot who worked in an off-licence in Swansea, Mr Muruganantharajah moved from Sri Lanka as a child, leaving his mother there. His family said his dream was to "buy his own plane and fly us all around" and return to live with his mother in Sri Lanka one day. "My mum relied on him as did our other relatives," his niece Vaishnavi Senthurkumaran told BBC Wales. "He was young but we all went to him for advice. He was more of a brother figure to everyone."

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police at the time: "We were called to Sgwd Y Pannwr waterfall, Ystradfellte, at approximately 4.40pm on Friday (1 September) to a report of a man having gone into the water to rescue two children and not come out. A multi-agency response was commenced with representation from the police, fire service, mountain rescue, HART and both the UK Air Rescue Team and the Wales Air Ambulance landing their aircrafts nearby.

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"At shortly after 7pm the fire service located the body of 27-year-old Mohananeethan Muruganantharajah in the water with an underwater camera. Unfortunately, due to conditions at the site recovery was not possible that evening, and specialist divers were brought in the following morning.”

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