Sisira Gajanayake and son remembered after tragic drowning

A Melbourne bus driver and his son have been remembered for their generosity and kindness after they tragically drowned at a popular Far North Queensland swimming hole.

A Melbourne driver has been remembered for his generosity and kindness after him and son tragically drowned at a popular waterfall in Cairns.

A Melbourne bus driver and his son have been remembered for their generosity and kindness after they tragically drowned at a popular Far North swimming hole on Tuesday night.

It is believed the pair - 59-year-old Sisira Gajanayake and his son, 21-year-old Themiya Gajanayake - were swimming at Crystal Cascades with family while on holiday before they got into difficulty and were found unresponsive in the water.

The elder Mr Gajanayake was a well-respected Ventura Bus driver from Melbourne.

Originally from Sri Lanka, Mr Gajanayake still had strong ties to the community with many friends remembering him as a “lovely friend and brother”.

Andrew Cornwall, managing director of Ventura Bus company, where Mr Gajanayake was employed, said the company was “deeply saddened” at the news.

59-year-old Melbourne bus driver Sisira Gajanayake has been identified as one of the drowning victims at Crystal Cascades on Tuesday afternoon. Picture: Facebook

“We are deeply saddened to lose such a lovely member of the Ventura bus driving team. Sisira has worked for Ventura as a professional driver for over eight years and is much loved by our Sri Lankan employee community,” Mr Cornwall said.

“Our thoughts are with Sisira’s family and his work colleagues from Melbourne that we holidaying with Sisira in Cairns at the time of this awful incident.”

The Crystal Cascades swimming hole, at Fredhwater Creek in the Redlynch Valley. Picture: Brendan Radke

One of Mr Gajanayake’s co-workers, Don Ranwaka said the family had been holidaying in Queensland for a few days and were due to return to Victoria on Sunday.
Mr Ranawaka said the incident came as a shock to everyone who knew Mr Gajanayake, who he described as a good swimmer.

“He got into the waterfall but unfortunately something went wrong,” Mr Ranawaka said.
“He asked for help from others and his youngest son, Themiya Gajanayake, jumped in to rescue him but they couldn’t survive.”

Mr Ranawaka said Mr Gajanayake had sent a photo of himself, his wife and their three children just hours before the tragedy occured.

“The last photo they took as a family, they sent around 12pm,” he said.

He described Mr Gajanayake as a “very good work colleague and very friendly to everyone.”

“We was a very nice, friendly gentleman. A very popular guy. Still no one can believe this happened. He’s such a nice person. Even the son is a very outstanding guy, just 21. His birthday is next month,” he said.

Sisira (second from right) and Themiya Gajanayake (right) with their family, hours before their tragic drowning at Crystal Cascades. Picture: Supplied

Mr Ranawaka confirmed the family was still in Queensland, waiting for the coroner’s report before they could take the pair home to Victoria.

Tributes continued on Facebook with friends and fellow alumni of the Ceylon German Technical Training Institue.

Jude Fernando who described Mr Gajanayake as “one of the most beautiful, loving brothers for almost 40 years”.

“Heard very shocking news yesterday evening. Good hearted and loving people gone too soon. May the lovely friend and lovely son attain Nibbana,” Mr Fernando posted on Facebook.

Friend Jagath Balage said the sudden death was “very sad”.

“Dear brother Sisira. The sudden demise of you and your beloved son is very sad to us, but brother, goodbye to you and your son,” Mr Balage also posted on social media.

Emergency services were called to the area about 5pm on Tuesday.

Police said the pair were declared deceased a short time later.

There are no suspicious circumstances.

Queensland Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

Originally published as Sisira Gajanayake and son remembered after tragic drowning