A sailor on foot patrol who saw five children in difficulty in the sea off Preethipura, Hendala, yesterday afternoon jumped in to rescue them. He succeeded in saving three of the children, but drowned along with the other two.
The sailor had responded immediately. Dropping his weapon, he jumped into the sea in full uniform and dragged three of the children out of the water. In his second rescue effort, the sailor was dragged down by the two boys still struggling in the sea, eyewitnesses told the police.
The sailor was identified as Able Patrolman R. M. K. S. Chandrasiri. The the two boys are S. S. Sundaraweli and S. T. Thilanga, both of Ragama. The boys were 14 years of age.
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