Scarborough Park Renamed In Memory Of 11-Year-Old Hero
Posted July 12, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Birunthan Muralitharan Nadarajah was just 11 years old when he died, but he was hardly too young to be considered a hero for the way he went.
The youngster was on his way to a pick-up soccer game on December 10, 2006, when his friend decided to take a short cut across an ice-covered pond.
Kishoban Alakeswaran, 15, fell through the soft ice near Finch and Morningside almost immediately.
That’s when Birunthan sprang into action, scrambling across the melting surface in a vain attempt to reach the teen.
By the time police officers and other emergency workers arrived on scene, it was too late.
Kishoban battled death for a week, hooked up to life support at the Hospital for Sick Children before succumbing.
Birunthan was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Saturday, Scarborough’s Wharnsby Park on Dragonfly Crescent was renamed Birunthan Park in honour of the boy who gave his life trying to save another. Birunthan’s father, Muralitharan Nadarajah, spoke at the dedication.
“He’s a hero and I’m proud of it,” he said. “At the same time as a parent, I lost my son … it’s painful.”
The renaming was helped towards reality by City Councillor Raymond Cho, who was also on hand at the unveiling Saturday.
“I approached the parents, what would you like to do,” he recalled. “They said they’d like to rename something so that people could remember.”
Renaming the park in the child’s honour has double meaning because Birunthan lived close by and frequently used the grounds to play soccer, the sport he loved. A game was also held Saturday at the site, even though one player’s absence was clearly felt.
Birunthan’s teammates paid tribute by laying flowers next to a picture of their former peer turned hero and stood with family and community members for a solemn moment of silence.
“It’s a wonderful day and my family is getting a little bit of comfort from these kinds of recognition,” Birunthan’s father added.
Two trees were also planted in the park, one for the memory of each of the lost youngsters.
Previous Articles:
Devastated Father Remembers Heroic Son
Community Has Asked For Dangerous Pond To Be Obstructed Before
Family Who Lost Child Faces Deportation
Teen Dies One Week After Falling Through Ice
Relatives Say Farewell To A Promising Student Whose Life Ended In The Depths Of A Cold Pond
