INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
local time while trying to save his 12-year-old son from rip currents
The deceased was identified as Potti Venkata Rajesh Kumar, a native of Addanki in Bapatla district
His 12-year-old son first got caught in the rip current and after seeing him drown, Rajesh rushed to his rescue
Both of them were caught in the rip current and could not come out of it
Bystanders alerted emergency response and rushed to their rescue
One Brendon Townsend, who saw the father and son duo getting drowned, was the first to jump in.Brendon managed to get hold of the boy and
Rajesh was declared brought dead, son in ICULater, Rajesh was also pulled out of the water, but he was unconscious by then
Brendon and other performed CPR but in vain.Both father and son duo were airlifted in a chopper to Wolfson hospital where Rajesh was
His son is admitted to the ICU where his condition is stated to be stable.According to Krishna Pulagam, a volunteer with Telugu Association
of Jacksonville Area (TAJA), Rajesh came to the United States in January 2022 while his family joined him only in May this year.The
volunteers at TAJA have started a fund raising campaign for his funeral expenses
They are also making arrangements to send his mortal remains to India.TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu spoke to external affairs minister S
Jaishankar and requested him to help the bereaved family in bringing back the mortal remains of Rajesh
The family members of Rajesh have also contacted APNRTS for help.
