A MOTHER of three drowned in front of her terrified children after they were swept away while trying to get the perfect beach photo.
Footage shows Jyoti Sonar, 32, and her husband Mukesh sitting on a stone at the famous Bandra Bandstand in. Mumbai, India.
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The two laugh and hold each other as the sea hits them and despite being drenched in a sari, polo shirt and jeans, they refuse to leave the shore.
However, a very strong wave comes crashing down on the anchored rock as several passers-by witness what is happening.
About 90 seconds later, Jyoti and Mukesh fall into the water after a wave.
The child can be heard screaming “Mommy, Mommy” several times before the video ends.
When her husband was saved by witnesses, Jyoti drowned in the waters of the strong current.
Witnesses called the police after the incident on July 9 and the search and rescue operation was started immediately.
The body of a 32-year-old woman was found 20 hours later the next day.
Jyoti was taken to a hospital when paramedics pronounced him dead on arrival.
Her distraught husband, Mukesh, told local media: “I tried my best to save her. When the fourth wave hit us from behind, I lost control and we all slipped.
He also said: “Someone who was watching me grabbed my leg when I grabbed my wife’s sari but he did not survive.”
The father of three – from Rabale, Maharashtra State – said he had planned to go to Juhu Chowpatty Beach but was not allowed to enter due to high tide.
The couple decided to spend the day in Bandra.
Reflecting on the danger, Mukesh said: “Jyoti followed me into the lake and we started enjoying the way the water splashed our clothes.
“The children also wanted to get closer to us but we stopped them because the sea was dangerous.”
He said: “We sat on a rock and our children, who were watching us from a distance, started taking pictures.
“Even though his hold on me was tight, he came out of his cloth and pulled me into the sea in front of me. My children were there.
“They screamed for help but there was nothing anyone could do. I don’t know how they are going to deal with this situation.”
Netizens condemned the pair’s actions and warned each other not to take such risks for good pictures.
Another user said: “That kid is the one I feel for. Adults used to be useless, now the kid will suffer for the rest of his life.”
Another said: “The only person I feel sorry for is the child.”
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