Chennai: A 24-year-old man in Chennai has been hailed as a real-life hero after he bravely rescued a schoolboy who was electrocuted in a stagnant pool of rainwater in Arumbakkam. The dramatic rescue, captured on CCTV and widely shared online, shows the man pulling the unconscious boy out of the electrified water and performing CPR, saving his life.
The incident took place on April 16, when Jaden Ryan, a Class III student, fell into a waterlogged stretch of road after receiving an electric shock from a leak in underground power cables. Kannan Thamizhselvan, a diploma engineer from Pudukottai district who works in Chennai, was on his way to work when he noticed the boy collapse in the puddle.
“I stopped my two-wheeler thinking the boy had simply slipped and fainted. But as I got closer, I saw him convulsing and realised it was an electric shock,” Kannan told The Times of India. Without hesitation, he dashed through the water, pulled the child out, and performed CPR, a skill he had learned by watching YouTube videos. He then rushed the boy to a nearby hospital.
Police Investigation Reveals Cable Damage
Jaden’s father, Robert, said his son had been feeling unwell but went to school to take his annual exam. “He was walking home as usual when this happened. I didn’t know Kannan at all — he got my number from Jaden’s school ID card and called me,” Robert told the publication. “We are thankful to him every single day," he added.
Authorities later traced the electric leak to a minor puncture in an underground cable, caused by roadworks carried out by the Greater Chennai Corporation. As per the TOI report, TNPDCL's assistant executive engineer confirmed that a contractor likely damaged the cable while relaying the road, resulting in the dangerous situation.
