Physiotherapy student drowns in Marina

Chennai: A first year physiotherapy student, Koteeswari, drowned at the Marina beach while her senior was saved from the waters on Sunday when giant waves sucked them in. Police said the incident took place at around 11 am when they were wading in the beach water.  Eyewitnesses were quoted as saying that the victim ventured into deeper waters and got carried away by the waves.
Sensing trouble, her senior at college, Ashok, 19, who had accompanied the girl, also ventured into deeper water hoping to save her.

Some fishermen noticed him struggling to swim and they managed to save him, but the girl was not traceable then, said a police officer. A search over the waters by a coastal security group helicopter could not locate the girl either. Her body was, however, washed ashore at around 4 pm near the Triumph of Labour statue.

Ashok was rushed to the Government Royapettah Hospital where he is said to be recovering. Police said that Koteeswari and Ashok were physiotherapy students in a private medical college at Thandalam. Ashok, from Tiruppur, was a second year student, while Koteeswari, from Vellore, was in the first year and they had come together to enjoy the Sunday.