Hero uncle drowns at beauty spot trying to save two nieces from waterfall

A hero uncle tragically drowned at a UK beauty spot as he desperately tried to save his two young nieces lives.

Shopkeeper Mohananeethan "Mohan" Muruganantharajah, from Swansea, Wales, had been on a family day out in the Brecon Beacons when the tragedy unfolded. The 27-year-old had been cooling off by the picturesque Sgwd Y Pannwr waterfall with his extended family on September 1, 2023, but his two young nieces started to get into difficulty after some of them "decided to enter the water as the weather was pleasant", an inquest heard.

Mohan, who owned an off-licence, heroically saved the girls but he was dragged below the water and became stuck under a ledge. It comes after a dead body is found in 'underground ancient cave' in popular UK beauty spot.

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The 27-year-old, who was also a qualified pilot, was sadly later found dead later. South Wales Central area coroner Patricia Morgan said: "Due to a number of Mohananeethan's family getting into some difficulty, he assisted them to safety. However, sadly, Mohananeethan was pulled under the water and did not resurface."

Emergency services on the tragic day were not able to rescue the shopkeeper and his body was recovered from the water a day later on September 2 , where he was declared dead.

The coroner ruled his tragic death an accident and said: "The purpose of the visit was to walk and enjoy the scenery. When arriving at the waterfall, a number of members of his family decided to enter the water as the weather was pleasant."

In an emotional family tribute, Mohan was remembered as "a brother figure to everyone" and said he "touched so many lives". His family has also since called for more warning signs to be put up around the waterfall.

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said at the time: "We were called to Sgwd y Pannwr waterfall, Ystradfellte, at approximately 4.40pm on Friday, September 1, to a report of a man having gone into the water to rescue two children and not come out.

"A multi-agency response was commenced with representation from the police, fire service, mountain rescue, HART (hazardous area response team) and both the UK Air Rescue Team and the Wales Air Ambulance landing their aircrafts nearby.

"At shortly after 7pm the fire service located the body of 27-year-old Mohananeethan Muruganantharaja in the water with an underwater camera.

"Unfortunately, due to conditions at the site recovery was not possible that evening, and specialist divers were brought in the following morning. His family is being supported by specialist officers."