ASIA/INDIA - Mourning in Goa for priest who died saving three young people

Goa (Agenzia Fides) – There is grief and mourning in the Catholic community of Goa for the death of a priest, Fr. Thomas Fernandes Remedios, age 37, Associate Pastor of the Church of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in the village of Nuvem, who died May 9 to save three young parishioners who were drowning in rough seas.
As the local Church tells Fides, the parish had organized a day of entertainment and fellowship at the beach in Galgibaga with a group of about 60 people, mostly youth. In the afternoon, three young people between 17 and 19 years of age (two girls and a boy) ventured into the rough sea and finding themselves in difficulty, pleaded for help. Fr. Fernandes dived to help and managed to save two immediately. Once he had managed to save the third, he was struck by a fatal heart attack. The priest was rescued and quickly taken to a nearby hospital, but doctors could do nothing more than confirm his death.
"He is a Shepherd who gave his life for his flock," the Church in Goa has said, and "in this Year for Priests, he is an example and a testimony for all the priests." (PA) (Agenzia Fides 05/11/2010)