Published on: 6:26 pm, April 6, 2016 Story By: Matter India reporter

Kochi: A Catholic priest lost his life on Wednesday while trying to save a drowning boy in Kerala.

Fr Augustine Vairamon and the student, Joyal Joy, were part of a picnic team from St. George Latin Catholic Church of Perumbavoor.

The 35-year-old parish priest accompanied a group of 16 Bible class students on a picnic. They came to see the Periyar River at Thottuva, some 45 km northeast of Kochi.

The priest jumped into the river when he saw the 14-year-old boy being swept away by strong undercurrent in the river. The boy, a resident of Koovappadim was rescued, but died later in a nearby hospital.

The priest, a native of Vandiperiyar in Idukki district, was born on December 24, 1980. He was ordained a priest on January 2, 2006.

According to the Kodanad police, the mishap took place at around 1:10 pm when Joyal and a few other students were taking bath at Thottuva kadavu near Kodanad.

According to the police, Fr Augustine died on the spot while Joyal succumbed at a nearby hospital.

The bodies have been shifted to a government hospital for post-mortem.