CHENNAI: Forget capes and masks. Kannan Thamizhselvan, 24, arriving on a two-wheeler, proved that heroism requires no hi-tech gismo or superpower, when he saved a Class III student in Arumbakkam.
The child fell into stagnant rainwater on April 16 after being electrocuted by a leak in underground power cables. The CCTV footage of the boy, Jaden Ryan,9, falling unconscious in a puddle of water after suffering an electric shock and being rescued by Kannan, went viral on Saturday.
In the video, Kannan is seen perplexed for a few seconds before running across the water and pulling the boy out. He gave the child CPR before rushing him to the nearby hospital.Kannan was stepping out for work when he noticed Jaden falling in the water.
"I stopped the two-wheeler to rescue him. I thought he slipped and fell unconscious. But when I went closer, I saw him shaking and realised he was suffering an electric shock. I decided to take the risk of lifting him out," said Kannan, a diploma engineer from Kaliyaranvidudhy in Pudukottai district, who works for a construction material supplier in Arumbakkam.
Kannan performed CPR he learned from YouTube videos. Jaden's father, Robert, a private firm employee and resident of Maangali Nagar in Arumbakkam, said his son was already unwell but was sent to school to write his annual examination.
"I dropped him in the morning as usual, and he was walking back home as he always does," he said. "I don't know Kannan. He called me seeing my number on Jaden's school ID card. We rushed to the hospital then. I have been thanking him every day since then," Robert said.
TNPDCL assistant executive engineer for Arumbakkam said the leakage was due to a small puncture in the underground cable made when Greater Chennai Corporation contractors relaid roads.
The child fell into stagnant rainwater on April 16 after being electrocuted by a leak in underground power cables. The CCTV footage of the boy, Jaden Ryan,9, falling unconscious in a puddle of water after suffering an electric shock and being rescued by Kannan, went viral on Saturday.
#Chennai man risks life to save boy from electric shock
— The Times Of India (@timesofindia) April 20, 2025
Kannan Thamizhselvan, 24, arriving on a two-wheeler saved a child who fell into stagnant rainwater after being electrocuted by a leak in underground power cables.
Read here 🔗https://t.co/tRpIsrQNXi#TamilNadu pic.twitter.com/9SW3FcGrG2
In the video, Kannan is seen perplexed for a few seconds before running across the water and pulling the boy out. He gave the child CPR before rushing him to the nearby hospital.Kannan was stepping out for work when he noticed Jaden falling in the water.
"I stopped the two-wheeler to rescue him. I thought he slipped and fell unconscious. But when I went closer, I saw him shaking and realised he was suffering an electric shock. I decided to take the risk of lifting him out," said Kannan, a diploma engineer from Kaliyaranvidudhy in Pudukottai district, who works for a construction material supplier in Arumbakkam.
Kannan performed CPR he learned from YouTube videos. Jaden's father, Robert, a private firm employee and resident of Maangali Nagar in Arumbakkam, said his son was already unwell but was sent to school to write his annual examination.
"I dropped him in the morning as usual, and he was walking back home as he always does," he said. "I don't know Kannan. He called me seeing my number on Jaden's school ID card. We rushed to the hospital then. I have been thanking him every day since then," Robert said.
TNPDCL assistant executive engineer for Arumbakkam said the leakage was due to a small puncture in the underground cable made when Greater Chennai Corporation contractors relaid roads.
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