Latest news with #Sasi
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Man dies by suicide after alleged threats from fin firm
Kottayam: A man died by suicide allegedly following threats from the representatives of a finance firm in Vallikunnam in Alappuzha. Vallikunnam native Sasi, 60, was found hanging in his house on Monday evening. According to relatives, Sasi's wife took a loan of around Rs 1.25 lakh from a financial firm. While she was repaying the money regularly every week, she missed the payment for one week. On Monday, a two-member group representing the firm entered the house and threatened her, saying that they would not leave without repayment, said relatives. Unnerved by this, Sasi went into the room and locked the door. Later, the family members opened the door and found him hanging. Police registered a case of unnatural death and started an investigation. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
Wales Online
12-06-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
Chances missed to save man killed walking across M4
Chances missed to save man killed walking across M4 The coroner said that there was a 'catalogue of missed opportunities" that may have prevented Thavarajah Sasikaran's death Thavarajah Sasikaran, 41, was killed in a crash on the M4 in Swansea (Image: South Wales Police / Google ) Opportunities were missed to safeguard a man who was fatally hit by a car while walking across a motorway, a coroner has concluded. Thavarajah Sasikaran was allowed to discharge himself from Morriston Hospital half an hour before the collision on the westbound carriageway of the M4 in Swansea. The 41-year-old — referred to as Sasi during the Swansea coroner's court hearing — had been experiencing paranoia and acute alcohol withdrawal in the lead-up to the accident at 8.34pm on February 18, 2022. The three-day inquest had heard he was struck by a Nissan Qashwai while "casually" crossing the carriageway on foot. A police investigation found the driver was blameless. No alcohol was in Sasi's system at the time of the crash between junctions 46 (Llangyfelach) and 47 (Penllergaer). In the hours before the collision Sasi had been in a confused state while experiencing withdrawal at the hospital — where he had been admitted at 4.30pm the day before — but due to communication failures a nurse allowed Sasi to discharge himself without realising he was in a mental health crisis. "There was a catalogue of missed opportunities that, if implemented, may have prevented death," said coroner Aled Gruffydd. Article continues below Sasi, a dad-of-one who struggled with alcohol addiction, had been living in supported accommodation on Tontine Street run by the Goleudy homelessness charity. On February 17 he had a mental health episode and told staff he was hearing voices and seeing spiders and slime on walls. No ambulance was available so staff called a taxi to take him to Morriston A&E, where he was assessed as being in acute alcohol withdrawal. Senior house officer Dr Amy Noble told the inquest that Sasi had "ideas to harm himself and paranoid thoughts". Agitated and twitching, Sasi told staff he drank half a litre of whisky each day as well as some beer. He was administered diazepam and kept in overnight to be assessed the following day. At 10.35am the next day he had a serious seizure and afterwards appeared confused, wandering around the hospital and displaying erratic behaviour like mixing a main meal with a dessert. In its serious incident review, Swansea Bay Health Board found a series of failings. Staff did not observe Sasi's alcohol withdrawal symptoms every 90 minutes as they should have done. This was because of an "extremely busy" period in the emergency department and Sasi's own reluctance to respond to assessment, said the coroner. Thavarajah Sasikaran, 41, died in a crash on the M4 near Swansea on February 18, 2022 (Image: South Wales Police ) At 6.30pm, nurse Annemarie Morris observed Sasi was still confused and lacking capacity to discharge himself. He required a mental health assessment before he could be safely discharged. But shortly afterwards Sasi told a security guard, Ian Gough, he wanted to go home. The guard took him to see nurse Tristan Taylor, who found the patient to appear "rational", with no "red flags". Sasi said he planned to go home as he would be travelling the following day to see family in London. Nurse Taylor allowed Sasi to discharge himself and Mr Gough walked him out of the hospital grounds at around 8pm. When the guard asked if he knew his way home, Sasi was able to give "adequate directions" to the city centre, said the coroner. The serious incident review found the unsafe discharge took place because of failings in "handover" information between staff, which meant nurse Taylor was aware of the seizure but "had no knowledge that this was a mental health matter", said Mr Gruffydd. "Nurse Taylor was unaware of the medical history," the coroner went on. "The case was overtaken by the seizure, but the original admission was for a mental health matter. By his own admission, had he been aware of the recommendation for a mental health assessment, nurse Taylor would have got a doctor to have a discussion with Sasi." The health board accepted errors including that there was no attempt to persuade Sasi to stay in hospital and see a doctor, no contact with his supported accommodation on discharge, and no offer to arrange a taxi. CCTV footage showed Sasi walking westbound along the hard shoulder of the M4's eastbound carriageway before the crash. "He has then crossed the eastbound carriageway and climbed over the central reservation barrier," the police report read. "He has then attempted to cross the westbound carriageway and was narrowly missed by a roads policing vehicle which was attending an unrelated emergency. "A very short time after this near miss he has been struck by a Nissan Qashqai. There is no evidence of any excess speed of the Nissan Qashqai, and the driver David Newman would have had only 40 metres to react, leaving very little time to avoid the collision." The officer who narrowly avoided crashing into Sasi was PC Ian Ranford, who said the pedestrian was dressed all in dark clothing on an unlit section of motorway and "casually" stepped from the central reservation into the path of the police car, appearing "oblivious" to his surroundings. After PC Ranford swerved to prevent a collision, Sasi continued walking across the carriageway and was knocked down in the next lane by the Nissan, which was travelling at 50mph in accordance with road signs. The PC and two off-duty nurses stopped to perform CPR on the motorway but he was pronounced dead at the scene with severe injuries to his neck, chest, pelvis and legs. Mr Gruffydd said there was not enough evidence to show the hospital's missed opportunities were "causative of death". Recording a conclusion of death by road traffic conclusion, he said: "I do not consider it was his intention to end his own life." The coroner noted that Sasi had spoken about self-harm but not suicidal ideation. "Furthermore, the CCTV footage showed that when he saw the police car he hurried forward to avoid it," he added. "That doesn't accord with the actions of a person who intended to take his own life. In my view this was a tragic accident." Sasi had a happy childhood in Sri Lanka before moving to the UK at the age of 20, said his brother Thavarajah Shanthakumaran in a statement. "He settled in London and was talented in arts and had a natural ability. However, he struggled with alcohol, so much so that we as a family paid for him to go to rehab and get his life back on track." Sasi married and became a father but he again battled with alcohol addiction after the marriage ended. He moved to south Wales in 2018 and got a job at a store run by his brother. Following a period in rehab he found supported accommodation in Swansea. "We are a close family and Sasi was never without money or food," his brother added. "We were always able to speak to him daily. As a family we are truly lost and heartbroken by Sasi's death. My parents will never get over losing him." What the health board says A Swansea Bay health board spokesman said: "The health board expresses its sincere condolences to Mr Sasikaran's family and apologises for the missed opportunities as outlined by the coroner. These missed opportunities were identified during the health board's own investigation following Mr Sasikaran's tragic death in 2022. "As a result of the lessons learnt, a series of measures, including additional training and improved procedures, has since been introduced. These relate to the failure to follow the CIW-AR regime for monitoring and rating the severity of alcohol withdrawal; failure in relation to the safe discharge of a patient who wants to self-discharge; and failings in communication and handover. Article continues below "We acknowledge the coroner's comments that he could not find the missed opportunities were probable in Mr Sasikaran's death and it was unforeseeable that he would be a pedestrian on the M4. Nevertheless, the health board would like to assure the family it is doing everything possible to prevent a similar incident occurring in future."
Wales Online
09-06-2025
- Wales Online
Man killed while 'casually' walking across busy section of the M4
Man killed while 'casually' walking across busy section of the M4 'As a family we are truly lost and heartbroken by Sasi's death' Thavarajah Sasikaran, 41, died in a crash on the M4 near Swansea on February 18, 2022 (Image: South Wales Police ) A man died after being hit by a car as he "casually" walked across a motorway. Thavarajah Sasikaran, 41, appeared "oblivious" to his surroundings as he attempted to cross the westbound carriageway of the M4 in Swansea, an inquest heard. Mr Sasikaran — referred to as Sasi during the Swansea coroner's court hearing — had been admitted to Morriston hospital with symptoms of acute alcohol withdrawal at 4.30pm on February 17, 2022, before leaving the hospital at around 8pm the following day. Just over half an hour later he was hit by a Nissan Qashqai between junctions 46 (Llangyfelach) and 47 (Penllergaer) of the M4. A South Wales Police investigation found the driver was blameless. On the opening day of the inquest, coroner Aled Wyn Gruffydd said he would consider issues including Sasi's care at the hospital and whether it had been safe for him to be discharged. Sasi had a happy childhood in Sri Lanka before moving to the UK at the age of 20, said his brother Thavarajah Shanthakumaran in a statement. "He settled in London and was talented in arts and had a natural ability. However, he struggled with alcohol, so much so that we as a family paid for him to go to rehab and get his life back on track." Sasi married and became a father but he again battled with alcohol addiction after the marriage ended. He moved to south Wales in 2018 and got a job at a store run by his brother. Following a period in rehab he found supported accommodation in Swansea. Article continues below "Our parents now live in Canada, and Sasi was always FaceTime-ing them," said Mr Shanthakumaran. "We are a close family and Sasi was never without money or food. We were always able to speak to him daily. As a family we are truly lost and heartbroken by Sasi's death. My parents will never get over losing him." On the night of the collision Sasi left Morriston hospital and started walking towards Swansea city centre, where he had lived in supported accommodation for around a year. Reading from a police report, coroner's officer Shaun Nolan said CCTV footage showed Sasi walking westbound along the hard shoulder of the M4's eastbound carriageway "for reasons unknown". "He has then crossed the eastbound carriageway and climbed over the central reservation barrier," the police report went on. "He has then attempted to cross the westbound carriageway and was narrowly missed by a roads policing vehicle which was attending an unrelated emergency. "A very short time after this near miss he has been struck by a Nissan Qashqai. There is no evidence of any excess speed of the Nissan Qashqai, and the driver David Newman would have had only 40 metres to react, leaving very little time to avoid the collision." The officer who narrowly avoided crashing into Sasi was PC Ian Ranford, who said the pedestrian was dressed all in dark clothing and had "casually" stepped from the central reservation into the path of the police car, appearing "oblivious". After PC Ranford swerved to prevent a collision, Sasi continued walking across the carriageway and was knocked down in the next lane, said the officer. For the latest court reports sign up to our newsletter. PC Ranford and two off-duty nurses stopped to perform CPR on the motorway, while members of the public shone light from phones to help them, but Sasi was pronounced dead at the scene with severe injuries to his neck, chest, pelvis and legs. There was no alcohol in his system and only a low level of anxiety medication, diazepam, which would not have affected his state of mind, the inquest heard. Mr Newman had been driving to visit friends in Haverfordwest, with his wife and two-year-old daughter in the back. His wife, Mercy Newman, said he was a safe driver and that she had no concerns about his speed, which was 50mph in accordance with road signs, she stated. Sasi had been living at Tontine Street accommodation run by the Goleudy homelessness charity. One of his support workers, Jessica Hain-Griffiths, said she was not sure if he had a formal diagnosis but that it was possible he had Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, a brain disorder caused by alcohol abuse. On February 17, Sasi had a mental health episode and told staff he was hearing voices and seeing spiders and slime on walls, although "he recognised that wasn't actually happening", said Ms Hain-Griffiths. No ambulance was available so staff called a taxi to take him to Morriston A&E, where he was assessed as being in a mental health crisis and "acute" alcohol withdrawal. Senior house officer Dr Amy Noble said Sasi had "ideas to harm himself and paranoid thoughts". Agitated and twitching, he told staff he drank half a bottle of whisky each day. He was administered diazepam and kept in overnight to be assessed the following day. At 10.35am on February 18, Sasi had a seizure in the hospital and appeared confused afterwards. Nurse Annemarie Morris said: "He was very difficult to manage for many hours, very agitated and going into trolley bay areas where he shouldn't have been." Article continues below Another nurse, Laura Morris, said: "He was aggressive to me. He lit a lighter in my face." His erratic behaviour also included mixing a main meal with a dessert, the inquest heard. The full details of Sasi's departure from the hospital are yet to be covered but the inquest did hear his need for a mental health assessment got "lost" because the seizure had led to him being moved into the resuscitation area. There was a brief statement from nurse Joanne Evans, who noticed Sasi had gone and was told by a colleague that he had "asked to leave". The inquest continues.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Vijay Antony opens up about financial struggles despite steady film production
Vijay Antony , a versatile actor, music composer, and producer, has not had any film releases so far this year. However, his much-anticipated 12th film as the lead actor has been titled 'Maargan'. Vijay Antony is not only starring in this film but has also taken on the roles of producer and music composer, showcasing his multifaceted talents. The film is directed by Leo John Paul, who is well-known for his work as an editor in hit films such as 'Attakathi,' 'Indru Netru Naalai,' and 'Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum.' 'Maargan' is being made as a pan-Indian film, expanding its reach beyond Tamil audiences. Alongside Vijay Antony, notable actors like Brigida, Samuthirakani, and Vijay's sister's son Ajay Thishan, who plays the antagonist, are featured. The film is slated to release on June 27, and its trailer has recently been unveiled to a positive response. Vijay Antony reveals loans and monthly interest payments behind his film ventures During the trailer launch event, Vijay Antony addressed some misconceptions about his financial status. He revealed that despite producing films consistently, his wealth is largely built on loans, and he diligently repays monthly interest. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Vijay Antony recounted his early days in the industry, mentioning that director Sasi first introduced him as a music composer through the film 'Dishyum'. Fifteen years later, the same director launched him as a lead actor with 'Pichaikkaran,' which earned him widespread recognition and success. A journey from music composer to lead actor under director Sasi's mentorship Vijay Antony expressed excitement about collaborating once again with director Sasi on an upcoming project. He emphasized that he will continue to compose music for his own films as well as for projects starring other actors. This dual role of actor and composer has become a signature aspect of his career, reflecting his passion and versatility in the film industry. Vijay Antony's future plans include producing films for other actors Looking ahead, Vijay Antony shared his aspirations to expand his production ventures. Until now, he has produced only the films in which he starred. However, depending on his financial situation in the coming years, he plans to produce films featuring other actors as well. This marks a new phase in his career as he aims to nurture fresh talent and contribute more broadly to Tamil cinema. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Director Sasi to team up with actor Vijay Antony for his next!
One of Tamil cinema's top directors Sasi , best known for having made the immensely popular blockbuster Pichaikkaran, on Monday announced that he would be teaming up with actor Vijay Antony once again for his next film. Participating in the trailer launch event of director Leo John Paul's 'Maargan', in which Vijay Antony plays a police officer investigating a series of murders, Sasi said, "In 2006, when I made the film 'Dishyum', Vijay Antony was the music director. In 2016, when I made 'Pichaikkaran', Vijay Antony played the lead. Now, we are going to work together again." Sasi went on to disclose that his upcoming film was one that he considered very close to his heart. He also disclosed that this film would feature two heroes. "While one of the hero roles will be played by Vijay Antony, the other hero's character will be played by Ajay Dhishan, who happens to be Vijay Antony's sister's son. I remember Ajay as a small child when we were doing Dishyum. He is now a young hero," Sasi added. Pitchaikkaran-Official Teaser | Vijay Antony,Satna Titus,Director Sasi,Vijay Antony Film Corporation The news is bound to delight fans of Tamil cinema as Vijay Antony's last film with director Sasi, Pichaikkaran, went on to emerge not only as a blockbuster but also as a cult classic. Pichaikkaran's story revolved around a renowned and wealthy businessman, who, in a bid to save his mother's life, seeks alms and lives the life of a beggar for a period of 48 days as part of a vow made to God. The film, which was based on a real life incident, moved audiences across not just Tamil Nadu but other regions of the country as well. Pichaikkaran, which went on to emerge as a huge blockbuster in Tamil, was remade in Telugu as Bichagadu, in Odia as Baby, in Marathi as Bhikari and in Kannada as Amma I love you. Now, after almost nine years, the immensely popular combo of director Sasi and actor Vijay Antony is back. The two working togther on another film has delighted fans of the duo. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
