Two British cousins, aged 15 and 19, drowned during Vienna boat trip after one leapt into the water to save the other when he got trapped in weeds

• Joel Aniyankunj, 19, jumped in the water to save his cousin Jason Varghese, 15
• Their family watched helplessly as they both disappeared beneath the surface 
• The pair, who were enjoying a holiday in Vienna, were found five hours later 

Two British cousins died together after one sacrificed his own life in an attempt to save the other from drowning during a boat trip on holiday.

Joel Aniyankunj, 19, lost his life heroically trying to rescue Jason Varghese, 15, when he got caught in underwater weeds, an inquest has heard.

The pair, from Bolton, Manchester, were swimming in the Old Danube lake in Vienna after the family hired a motor boat on August 23, last year. 

Five family members, including Jason’s younger brother Jenson, 13, helplessly watched as the pair were both dragged beneath the surface of the water. 

Joel Aniyankunj, 19, (left) lost his life trying to rescue his cousin Jason Varghese, 15 (right)

The boys were ‘getting bored’ so relatives had offered to take them boating at the popular lake.

Jason, a high flying student who was described as ‘fit and athletic’, got tangled in vegetation and shouted: ‘I think I’m sinking’.

Jason Varghese, 15, died after getting caught in the reeds

Joel, a popular IT apprentice who was ‘more like a brother’ to his cousin, told him not to panic as he swam over to help. 

Their bodies were found around five hours later by a team of ten Austrian divers. 

An inquest in Bolton heard the tragedy occurred on August 23 last year, four days after the youngsters had arrived for a family holiday.

In a statement their cousin Jerina Pannikadavil said: ‘My sister, Sherina, and I wanted to go on a boat ride – it was 37C that day and we were really excited to go on this boat trip. 

‘My sister said we will be the first to drown because we don’t know how to swim. The Jason said ‘me and Joel know how to swim so we will both help you.’

‘Joel and Jason got in the water and swam around. I don’t know how far away Jason was, but he had a worried face. I heard him say ‘I think I’m sinking.’ 

‘I remember Joel saying ‘don’t worry, I’m coming to you.’ We shouted for help and other swimmers came to help.’ 

Joel Aniyankunj, 19, had tried to help his younger cousin 

Sherina added: ‘I do not know how to start or where to begin, it tears my heart apart. I felt sorry for the boys because they had come to Vienna for fun and I couldn’t bear to see them on the sofa on their mobile phones.  

‘Before we could reach them, they sunk down. Other swimmers tried to look for them, but it was pitch black under the water.’ 

Jason’s mother Suby Varghese, a nurse, said: ‘Jason was a very fit, athletic young man who was a good swimmer. He had lessons from the age of six and he took qualifications in swimming. He was a very good student who had a lot of friends and was very popular. 

Joel’s mother said her son (pictured) was a competent swimmer

‘Afterwards we found out there was nothing that showed any safety measures or live-saving equipment in the area around where Jason and Joel died. This was an area where many people would go to swim.

‘When the police were searching for the boys, people were still swimming in there – so it wasn’t that safe. 

‘If someone had done their job of clearing the vegetation or putting up signs, Jason and Joel would be here today.’

Jason had been due to begin Year 11 at St James’s C of E High School after the summer holidays. 

On the family’s return home to Bolton, his parents discovered that their son had achieved top marks in GCSE exams that he had taken a year early. 

Joel’s mother Susan Aniyankunj, also a nurse, said her son was a competent swimmer and taught others how to swim. 

She said: ‘Joel was very fit and athletic and had been swimming from the age of six, and had a number of swimming qualifications.

‘He had entered the National Youth Service and gave instructions to other swimmers. He was also an accomplished kickboxer and Bollywood dancer. He was model son.

‘I saw no signs warning of the dangers and no lifejackets. 

‘Since this incident, we have come to know that there has been incidents like this before, so they should have taken action before this happened. I just want justice.’ 

The pair, from Bolton, Manchester, were swimming in the Old Danube lake (pictured) in Vienna after the family hired a motor boat on August 23, last year

Recording a conclusion of accidental death, Bolton Coroner Alan Walsh said: ‘Joel and Jason were likely to have got caught in reeds under the water. Governments will find it difficult clearing natural vegetation which is growing naturally under the earth.

‘You cannot stop rivers meandering around from mountains and you therefore cannot control the vegetation. But, I do agree with raising awareness. 

‘It’s likely to me, on a balance of probabilities, that Jason got into difficulty with undergrowth which caused him to call out that he thought he was sinking. Joel, to his enormous credit, went to help. 

‘I heard they were like brothers. It must have been horrendous for both of them and for those who were watching – they suddenly disappeared under the water.’

Jason’s father, Shibu Varghese, said: ‘Jason really looked up to Joel. He was like a big brother to him. If Joel said something to him, Jason would listen. Joel was always full of wise words for his younger cousin, but it went both ways.

‘If Jason said something, Joel would always listen to him too. There was great respect between them. They never argued and they always referred to each other as ‘chachon’, meaning brother. They really were brothers-in-arms.

‘They were good boys and everybody loved them.’

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