The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Thattekkad hero to be nominated for bravery award

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Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007
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Thattekkad hero to be nominated for bravery award

Special Correspondent

Nitin Joy, Class VIII student, rescued five children.

KOCHI: The Kothamangalam block panchayat has decided to nominate the hero of the February 20 Thattekkad boat disaster, 14-year-old Nitin Joy, for the President's bravery award.

Boat capsized

Nitin, a Class VIII student at Mar Basil High School, Kothamangalam, rescued five children who had fallen off the boat into the river when the boat capsized.

Nitin, along with his father Pallithazhath Veettil Joy, was fishing in the river from a country craft when disaster struck one of the three boats carrying children from St. Antony's UP School, Elavoor, who were on a picnic.

Nitin rowed to the sinking boat, jumped into the water and rescued five children.

At a function at the panchayat hall on Tuesday, the Kothamangalam block panchayat felicitated Nitin as well as his father Joy and their fellow fisherman Mankuzha Veettil Xavier who both helped in the rescue effort. Block panchayat president Anu Vijayanath presented mementoes to the three. Nitin's school has commended his selfless work at a school function.

Felicitation

The Keeranmpara village panchayat, in whose limits Nitin's family resides, is organising a function on Wednesday to honour him.

The Ernakulam district panchayat is also planning to felicitate the young braveheart who hails from a poor, landless family.

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