Two Foreign Tourists Die in Separate Incidents in Bentota

Two foreign tourists, including a Ukrainian naval officer and a Kazakhstani national, tragically lost their lives in separate incidents while bathing in Bentota this week.

In the first incident, 56-year-old Ukrainian naval officer Sandsley Marshkovidsky drowned on February 11 after being dragged into the sea by strong currents near a well-known tourist hotel. Marshkovidsky, who had arrived in Sri Lanka with his wife and two children on January 30, was rescued by two lifeguards and given CPR before being rushed to Bentota Hospital. However, he was pronounced dead on admission.

A post-mortem examination conducted by Judicial Medical Officer Dr. Noel Perera confirmed that the cause of death was drowning. Inquirer into sudden deaths for the Balapitiya area, A.C.P. Perera, stated that the tourist had been caught in a powerful current.

In a separate incident on February 10, 61-year-old Alexid Porroh from Kazakhstan suffered a fatal heart attack while swimming in Bentota. His wife, Tericiya Cova, recounted that she was seated on a rock nearby when her husband suddenly collapsed into the water. He was immediately transported to Bentota Hospital but could not be saved.

Judicial Medical Officer E.D.A. Dissanayake, who conducted the post-mortem, confirmed that Porroh died of a heart attack. His wife informed authorities that he had a history of heart disease and had suffered two prior heart attacks.

A.C.P. Perera confirmed that both deaths were due to natural causes, with one resulting from drowning and the other from a heart attack. The incidents have raised concerns about tourist safety in Bentota, a popular coastal destination known for its strong ocean currents.