The Weligama doctor father who sacrificed his life to save his son's life

A picnic taken to happily spend time with family members recently ended, leaving behind a sorrowful memory that will last a lifetime. A loving father, who despite a thousand duties, went to the beach to enjoy life with his wife and children, bid farewell to life, giving others a chance to live, bringing tears to everyone's eyes.

The person who tragically lost his life was Mr. Tejan Jayasekara, who served as the Chief Medical Officer at the Weligama Walana Divisional Hospital. Born in the Weligama area and serving at the hospital in the same region, he was a doctor who worked with immense dedication for the well-being of his patients. Especially during the recent COVID-19 pandemic, his efforts in collaboration with the Weligama Medical Officer of Health office to save the lives of tens of thousands of patients are still gratefully remembered by the residents of the area.

On the last Christmas Day, the doctor had gone to Mirissa beach with his wife and two children with the aim of spending a relaxing and happy time. He had great hopes of spending this break, which he received from his busy medical profession, with his family. While they were enjoying the beauty of Mirissa beach, at an unexpected moment, the sea waves turned rough. A sudden large wave swept them away with a speed that no one could have imagined.

According to Mrs. Thilini Kumari, the doctor's wife, when she was swept out to sea, she was rescued with the help of a foreigner who was nearby. However, the doctor and his son were caught by the 'water monster' (the strong current/waves). The father, realizing that he could swim but his son could not, prioritized saving his child in that battle between life and death, without thinking of himself.

Thilini Kumari, Dr. Tejan's wife, expressed her heart-wrenching pain with sobs, saying: 'He held my hand and put his arm around my shoulder and took me. I said I was going to die. I said my son can't swim either. We had also brought food and drinks. We were eating them after coming to the beach. I also came ashore. Many people were jumping over the sea waves. He also told me to go there. It wasn't very deep. The water was only up to his waist. Not deep. He said, "I'm here, aren't I?" He spoke so lovingly and took me with his arm around my shoulder. I went because he spoke like that. I can't swim that well either. While I was jumping over the waves, he told me not to do it like that, but to jump when the wave comes. He even taught me that. Suddenly a big wave came, going higher than my level. Then I turned back and looked. He was about 10 meters behind me. I was facing forward to meet the wave. I couldn't look at him. I felt like I was drowning. I couldn't touch the bottom, the water was full. I raised my hands and waved them that much. But no one saw it. There was a foreigner about 25 meters away from me. I told him I couldn't swim and asked for help. He came to me and grabbed me. He couldn't swim to shore with me.'

I called out to him and said I couldn't swim and asked for help. Those two took me until I could touch the bottom. Then I thought, Tejan knows how to swim, so he's fine. I thought I was the one who was going to die. I said my son can't swim either. Another foreigner brought the son. After that, I asked, 'Son, where is Dad?' He said Dad wasn't there. I saw others going far to find Teja. After about 10 minutes, they brought him in a boat. He was expelling phlegm from his mouth and nose. He couldn't swim….'

The most poignant aspect of this incident is how the father saved his child. The words spoken by the little child, "Daddy lifted me with both his legs and put me ashore," shook the hearts of those who heard them. The father, who lifted the child above the water and pushed him towards the shore, struggled with the strong current, gave his child life, and then disappeared beneath the water. Later, the people nearby brought the doctor ashore and admitted him to Matara General Hospital, but by then, he had already departed from this world.

The final rites for Dr. Tejan Jayasekara, who was 49 years old at the time of his death, were held at his residence in Walliwala, Weligama. He departed after making the ultimate sacrifice a father can make for a child, allowing his child to see the world of tomorrow. While the loss of a valuable doctor to the country is regrettable, he will always be remembered as a noble father who sacrificed his life for his family.