Kerala flood volunteer Rajesh dies after handing life jacket to 61-year-old man he just rescued from river

Kerala flood volunteer and swimming instructor R Rajesh died after giving his own life jacket to a 61-year-old man he had just rescued from the flooded Kariangode river near Meenthully Island in Kannur district on 1 August. His body was recovered on Tuesday.

Rajesh, a native of Kalliyoor in Thiruvananthapuram, had been leading the rescued man, identified as Benny, back to shore when he was caught in the current of the swollen river and swept away.

Who was R Rajesh?


Rajesh was a swimming instructor and rappelling trainer who had responded to every major disaster Kerala faced in recent years.

He had volunteered during the 2018 Kerala floods. He was among the rescuers who went to Wayanad during the 2024 landslide tragedy. When the 2026 floods hit, he was there again.

He is survived by his wife Lekshmi, two young sons Arshan and Abhishek, and his parents Rajasekharan and Geetha.

What happened at the Kariangode river?

According to accounts shared by Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan and BJP MLA Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Rajesh had rescued Benny, a 61-year-old local resident who was swept away in the floodwaters near Pulingome in Kannur.

After pulling Benny to relative safety, Rajesh gave the man his own life jacket. While leading him back to shore, Rajesh was caught in the current. He did not make it back. His body was recovered the following day.

Kerala CM tribute to Rajesh

Chief Minister V D Satheesan paid tribute to Rajesh on Wednesday, describing the incident as heartbreaking.

"Rajesh gave away his own life jacket to save a drowning person in Kannur's Pulingome before succumbing to the floodwaters. His ultimate sacrifice and selfless love for humanity will forever be remembered. Deepest condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones. His courage lives on," Satheesan posted on X.


The CM noted that Rajesh had previously volunteered during past Kerala floods and the Wayanad disaster.

What did BJP and opposition say about Rajesh?

BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, MLA from Nemom constituency, also condoled Rajesh's death, calling him a hero of the 2018 floods, the 2024 Wayanad disaster, and the 2026 floods.

"His courage, selflessness and sacrifice will forever be a part of Kerala's story. My deepest condolences to his wife Lekshmi, his two young sons Arshan and Abhishek, his parents Rajasekharan and Geetha, and all those who loved him. I pray that his family finds the strength to bear this immeasurable loss," Chandrasekhar wrote on X.


Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Pinarayi Vijayan, also condoled the swimming instructor's death on Tuesday.

(With PTI inputs)