(COLOMBO) – A 78-year-old Indian man died while attempting to swim across the Palk Strait between Sri Lanka and the South Indian Dhanushkodi islet in Rameswaram on Tuesday afternoon, officials said.
They said Gopal Rao, of Bengaluru, Karnataka died of a major heart attack midway of the swim.
He was in fourth position in the group of 31 when he was put on a boat after complaining of a chest pain.
He was pronounced dead by medical personnel that were riding the boat, the officials added.
The victim along with the group had entered Sri Lanka by boat on Monday and started the swim to India shortly after mid day from Thalaimannar in Sri Lanka’s northern seas.
The victim developed chest pains some two hours after being in the water, according to the officials.
The event was later cancelled as a mark of respect for the elder citizen.
The swimmers had earlier obtained permission for the event from the authorities of both countries.
Dhanushkodi Islet is situated some 23 kilometres from Sri Lanka’s northern shores.
