The body of a 20-year-old youth from Bengaluru Rural, who went missing after being swept away by strong waves at Payyambalam Beach in Kerala’s Kannur district, was recovered on Sunday following an extensive search operation.
The deceased has been identified as Santhosh Kumar. He had visited the beach with friends after completing a pilgrimage to Kottiyoor when the tragic incident occurred.
Swept away by strong waves
According to reports, Santhosh and three friends reached Payyambalam Beach on Saturday afternoon after their pilgrimage. The sea was reportedly rough, and two members of the group were caught in strong waves while entering the water.
Lifeguards at the beach managed to rescue one of them, but Santhosh was swept away before he could be brought to safety. Search efforts were launched immediately by local authorities, lifeguards and rescue teams.
Body recovered during rescue operation
The search continued through the night and resumed on Sunday morning with the involvement of the Coastal Police and the Marine Enforcement Force. During the operation, rescuers located Santhosh’s body in the sea.
Officials said the body was later handed over to family members and transported to Karnataka in an ambulance arranged with the support of the district administration and tourism authorities.
Safety concerns raised
The incident has once again highlighted the dangers posed by rough sea conditions along Kerala’s coastline during the monsoon season. Reports indicate that earlier on the same day, another group of tourists from Karnataka had also been caught in the waves at the beach but were rescued in time.
Authorities have urged visitors to heed warning signs and follow safety instructions issued by lifeguards, particularly during periods of turbulent weather and strong currents.