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| Funeral held for five men who drowned at Camber Sands | |
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| Hundreds of people gathered for the funerals of five young friends who died during a day trip to Camber Sands. Kenugen Saththiyanathan, 18, known as Ken, and his brother Kobikanthan Saththiyanathan, 22, known as Kobi, both from south-east London, drowned at the popular East Sussex beach on 24 August, the hottest day of the year in the UK. | Hundreds of people gathered for the funerals of five young friends who died during a day trip to Camber Sands. Kenugen Saththiyanathan, 18, known as Ken, and his brother Kobikanthan Saththiyanathan, 22, known as Kobi, both from south-east London, drowned at the popular East Sussex beach on 24 August, the hottest day of the year in the UK. |
| Their friends Nitharsan Ravi, 22, Inthushan Sriskantharasa, 23, and Gurushanth Srithavarajah, 27, also died after getting into difficulties in the water. | Their friends Nitharsan Ravi, 22, Inthushan Sriskantharasa, 23, and Gurushanth Srithavarajah, 27, also died after getting into difficulties in the water. |
| They were remembered at a Hindu ceremony on Sunday with petal-laying at Plumstead Common, south-east London, which began at dawn. Relatives and friends wept as the coffins were carried into marquee tents, before mourners walked around and paid their respects. | They were remembered at a Hindu ceremony on Sunday with petal-laying at Plumstead Common, south-east London, which began at dawn. Relatives and friends wept as the coffins were carried into marquee tents, before mourners walked around and paid their respects. |
| Councillor Krishna Suresh, former mayor of Harrow, said what happened was “a big tragedy for the Tamil community”. He said that in times like this the community came together, and praised the group of friends, saying they had done a lot of volunteer work. Suresh added that, as well as being well-educated, the young men enjoyed football and cricket, and had “lots of extra talents”. | Councillor Krishna Suresh, former mayor of Harrow, said what happened was “a big tragedy for the Tamil community”. He said that in times like this the community came together, and praised the group of friends, saying they had done a lot of volunteer work. Suresh added that, as well as being well-educated, the young men enjoyed football and cricket, and had “lots of extra talents”. |
| A number of people addressed the crowd on behalf of the grieving families. The men played with the Jaffna 11 cricket club, which competes in the British Tamil cricket league. Subash Vettivelu, who had known the victims for a long time through the club, said they were all “very, very friendly” and “very good players”. | A number of people addressed the crowd on behalf of the grieving families. The men played with the Jaffna 11 cricket club, which competes in the British Tamil cricket league. Subash Vettivelu, who had known the victims for a long time through the club, said they were all “very, very friendly” and “very good players”. |
| A crowdfunding page to help pay for the funerals raised more than £9,000. | A crowdfunding page to help pay for the funerals raised more than £9,000. |
| The issue of the lack of lifeguards at Camber Sands, previously criticised by some relatives of the men, was highlighted at the funerals. Family members have suggested they might have stood a chance of survival if the beach had been manned. | The issue of the lack of lifeguards at Camber Sands, previously criticised by some relatives of the men, was highlighted at the funerals. Family members have suggested they might have stood a chance of survival if the beach had been manned. |
| Sai Yoghananthan, from the Camber Sands Boys’ Funeral Committee and a family friend, told Sky News: “The message we want to get out today is about beach safety. There was no lifeguard there. Our families can’t bear the thought of anyone else suffering like they have. We are a tight-knit community and our boys were at the heart of it. We will never forget them.” | Sai Yoghananthan, from the Camber Sands Boys’ Funeral Committee and a family friend, told Sky News: “The message we want to get out today is about beach safety. There was no lifeguard there. Our families can’t bear the thought of anyone else suffering like they have. We are a tight-knit community and our boys were at the heart of it. We will never forget them.” |
| Clive Efford, MP for Eltham, said: “Questions need to be asked about how we arrange safety on our beaches.” | Clive Efford, MP for Eltham, said: “Questions need to be asked about how we arrange safety on our beaches.” |
| A petition for the posting of lifeguards at Camber Sands during the summer has been signed by more than 8,000 people. RNLI lifeguards have been deployed at the beach since the tragedy. | A petition for the posting of lifeguards at Camber Sands during the summer has been signed by more than 8,000 people. RNLI lifeguards have been deployed at the beach since the tragedy. |