Sri Lanka born pilot dies trying to rescue kids from Welsh waterfall

COLOMBO (News 1st); A Sri Lankan born pilot, Mohananeethan Muruganantharaja, 27, died after he rescued his two nieces who had got into difficulty at a waterfall in Wales.

Muruganantharaja had reportedly entered the water at the beauty spot in the Brecon Beacons last week, having spotted the young girls in danger.

The children were pulled from the river but  Muruganantharaja was unable to get to land and then disappeared from view.

Muruganantharaja’s niece told the BBC: “One of my sisters didn’t feel safe in the water and everyone came over to help her. At that moment the current was pulling us in towards the waterfall. My uncle came in to pull us out one by one.”

But after saving his family members, the Sri Lankan-born pilot got into trouble.

Emergency crews, including an air ambulance, were called to the popular Sgwd Y Pannwr falls at Ystradfellte Muruganantharaja could not be saved.

The niece said: “My mother can’t swim so she was throwing anything she could find into the water.

Muruganantharaja’s body was found in the evening, but weather conditions meant he could not be recovered until the following morning when specialist divers were brought in.

The qualified pilot, who worked in an off-licence in Swansea, had been located using underwater cameras.

His family have called for more warning signs about the dangers they say the site poses.

The Sgwd Y Pannwr waterfall is popular with walkers and photographers for its cascading falls dropping from almost 40ft high.

It is also known as the “Fall of the Fuller” and is situated on the Afon Mellte river.

Source: Telegraph / Welsh Media