Scarborough park renamed in honour of young hero

The city of Toronto renamed a park in Scarborough on Saturday in honour of an 11-year-old boy who died trying to rescue his friend from a frozen pond.

Wharnsby Park, located near Neilson Road and Finch Avenue, is now called Birunthan Park.

Birunthan Nadarajah died on Dec. 10, 2006 while trying to rescue 15-year-old Kishoban Alakeswaran, who fell through the thin ice on a nearby pond. The boys were on their way to a soccer game when the incident occurred.

After Kishoban fell in, Birunthan ran over to try to help, but ultimately crashed through the ice as well.

Birunthan's father said Saturday's ceremony was bittersweet.

"I carry the pain, but at the same when the community and the city do these kinds of events, I am really proud my son," Muralidaran Nadarajah said.

Local resident Phillip Hall recounted the fateful day while at Saturday's event. The non-swimmer tried to rescue the boys by lying out onto the lake and throwing them an extension cord.

Birunthan grabbed the cord twice, but couldn't hold on. He slipped under the water and drowned.

"I don't think I'll ever forget it, and I don't think I'll never forget the look on the young boy's face, the desperation," Hall said.

"The thing that will live with me most was the look in his eyes, the fear in his eyes and him wanting me to help."

Const. Mark Tan also helped in the rescue, and ended up in the pond trying to save the boys.

The children were pulled from the water, but Birunthan was pronounced dead at the scene. Paramedics revived Kishoban, but he was taken off life support a week later.

The Ontario government recognized the courage displayed by Birunthan, Hall and Tan at a bravery awards ceremony in May 2007.

Two sugar maples were recently planted in memory of the boys in Birunthan Park. The concept is that in 20 years, when the trees mature, their limbs will touch and the boys will be together again.

With a report from CTV Toronto's Austin Delaney