Little hero in Kotmale

By Shantha Chandrasiri Hulannuge

Colombo, April 7 (Daily Mirror) - A heroic deed of a little boy who saved his parents and sister from imminent death when they received serious injuries in a road accident was reported yesterday from Thawalanthenna, Kotmale.

The 12-year-old K. Hirantha Samarakoon is a Grade Six student of Gamini Dissanayake National School in Kotmale.

His parents, his sister, and another were travelling from Welimda via Nuwara Eliya to Thawalanghenna after visiting a family friend when their van veered off the road and fell into a 120-foot steep precipice at the Gerandi Ella area in Ramboda at the dead of night. His parents and his sister were trapped in the wreckage while he managed to keep on his feet despite injuries. The other individuals were lying nearby.

However, the boy and another managed to ascend the deep precipice, holding trees and boulders and, hanging on the creepers and get onto the road with great difficulty. They attempted to draw the attention of several vehicles passing by until a lorry stopped, and those on board, after learning about the accident, immediately informed Kotmale Police and undertook to carry the injured to Kotmale hospital by lorry. The injured were later transferred to Nuwara Eliya General Hospital.

Kotmale Police, Kotmale hospital staff and the residents of the area highly commended the little child for his valour and timely action taken by him to save his parents and sister.

He was released after treatment at Nuwara Eliya General Hospital.