Buddhist monk saves senior citizen from crocodile

• Ven. Pellandeniya Piyananda Thera and the victim were bathing in the same lake on Monday morning when the incident happened

By Dayaratna Abogama - Anuradhapura   

A 30-year-old Buddhist monk had jumped into a lake in Diyamailagaswewa, Kahatagasdigiliya to rescue a 70-year-old man from a crocodile that had attacked and dragged the man away while bathing.   

Police said the monk- Ven. Pellandeniya Piyananda Thera and the victim were bathing in the same lake on Monday morning when the incident happened.   It is said that the monk was preparing to return to the temple after bathing when he saw the 70-year old man was being attacked and dragged away by a crocodile.   The monk had then jumped into the lake and fought with the crocodile to save the man.   

The man who suffered serious injuries to his leg was later admitted to the Anuradhapura Hospital with the assistance of the residents.