Kerala flood volunteer and swimming instructor R Rajesh lost his life after handing over his own life jacket to a 61‑year‑old man he had just rescued from the swollen Kariangode river near Meenthully Island.
Rajesh, a native of Kalliyoor in Thiruvananthapuram, had pulled the man, identified as Benny, to safety when he was swept away by the strong current while leading him back to shore. His body was recovered the following day.
Known for his courage and selfless service, Rajesh had volunteered during the 2018 Kerala floods, the 2024 Wayanad landslide tragedy, and returned again during the 2026 floods. He was also a rappelling trainer and swimming instructor.
Rajesh is survived by his wife Lekshmi, two young sons Arshan and Abhishek, and his parents Rajasekharan and Geetha.
Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan paid tribute, calling Rajesh’s sacrifice “heartbreaking” and noting that his courage and humanity will be remembered forever. BJP MLA Rajeev Chandrasekhar and Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan also condoled his death, describing him as a hero of Kerala’s disasters.
Rajesh’s final act of bravery — giving away his life jacket to save another — has etched his name into Kerala’s collective memory as a symbol of ultimate sacrifice.
