Radiologist died during winter sea swim in Plymouth Sound

ADERRIFORD Hospital radiologist died after attempting to swim to a nearby buoy in Plymouth Sound, an inquest has heard.

Rakesh Vallittayil had met a group of work friends on Plymouth Hoe on February 21, 2021, before deciding to go for a swim.

An inquest opened by senior coroner Ian Arrow at Plymouth Coroner’s Court heard that Mr Vallittayil was sadly recovered from the sea and pronounced deceased, despite the best efforts of the RNLI and paramedics.

The 41-year-old asked friends to film him swimming for his YouTube channel and was described as a “confident swimmer” by those who knew him. He had recently moved to Plymouth from India just months before his death with a “dream to give better care and life for his family,” friends said.

Born in Tanur, a coastal town in India, he was set to be joined by his family in the UK after he secured a job as a radiographer at Derriford Hospital and moved into a property on North Road East in the city.

The inquest heard that, on the day of his death, Mr Vallittayil had met with friends who he worked with at Derriford Hospital.

One witness who described himself as a “close friend” of Mr Vallittayil’s told how the radiographer would often talk about his love for swimming and had even rescued a drowning person in India.

In a statement read out to the inquest, the friend said he had seen other people swimming in Plymouth Sound, which had prompted him to join them.

Mr Vallittayil asked friends to video him as he attempted to swim to a buoy, approximately 100m away.

As he approached the buoy, the visibility for those on shore became poor due to the sun’s glare. However, another family on the waterfront pointed out the swimmer was no longer moving and the emergency services were alerted.

Mr Vallittayil’s body was pulled from the sea by members of the RNLI team based at Millbay Docks before he was transferred to Derriford Hospital’s emergency department by paramedics.

The investigating officer at Devon and Cornwall Police, Phil Trevains, warned that swimming in cold water was extremely dangerous. He said: “It is not safe for casual swimmers unless they are wearing protection such as a wetsuit or if they are experienced outdoors swimmers.” He went on to say the weather had been very pleasant but water temperatures at that time of year was on average just nine degrees Celsius.

A post-mortem gave a cause of death as being cold water immersion syndrome, a condition caused by cold water leading to reduced arm movement and a “significant reduction in the electrical function of the heart”.

Mr Arrow concluded the death had been accidental. He stated the cause of death was to be ruled as cold water immersion syndrome, and the deceased underestimated the effect of the water temperature.