Nicholas Seucharan was hailed as a hero yesterday, as relatives, friends and co-workers gathered to bid farewell to the man who gave his life to save two children from drowning In delivering the eulogy at Seucharan’s funeral at his 31 Alleyne Road, Tabaquite home, his cousin Annie La Callie urged the parents of the children he saved not to take his sacrifice lightly. She called on them to raise their children right and not let Seucharan’s sacrifice go in vain.
“I hope the parents of these children who he died to save understand what we have lost, and I hope they do not take it lightly, because now they have a big mandate,” she said. “You need to grow those children that he died for in the knowledge and the fear of the Lord and let them know that a great man died so that they might live. Hold them responsible so that they do not become wayward, because he was not wayward.”
Seucharan, a T&TEC electrician, died on Monday at Mayaro. Relatives said in an interview the children and their parents were not at the funeral yesterday. La Callie, who struggled to maintain her composure, also urged the children’s parents to keep Seucharan’s mother, Pramatee, in their prayers. “She does not have hers any more. I want you to remember that you owe this lady a prayer for the rest of your lives so that she gets strength to carry on,” La Callie said.
She asked the mourners, who lined the street outside the home and packed the courtyard, if they could do what her cousin did. “I know you are sitting there saying no, but if it were your children, would you want him to do it? “That was why he was extraordinary. He would go (to the beach), he would not go in the water, he would stay on the sand—yet still he went out there for these two children he did not know,” she said.
Later, neighbours emerged from their homes and paused on the street as the words of Mariah Carey’s song Hero blasted from the loudspeakers of the car leading the white, decorated hearse carrying Seucharan to his final rites. As the hearse passed along the Tabaquite main road, a man raised his hands in the air and applauded, while another raised his hat and gave a thumbs-up sign. It was clear Seucharan was considered a hero in his hometown.
Seucharan’s father, Kenel, was inconsolable yesterday as he stood next to his son’s white casket. Through his tears, Kenel said, “I tell Nicky do not go, he say, ‘Daddy, the boys drowning, I have to go.’ I tell Nicky, ‘Do not go, son, I depending on you. How we go live without you?’” Seucharan’s fiancee Samantha Henderickson sobbed incessantly and was seen stroking his face while his sister Nisha held her hand.
T&TEC general manager Kelvin Ramsook, who spoke at the service, described Seucharan as hard-working and a gentleman who would be missed by his co-workers. He said since Seucharan’s death T&TEC’s flags have been flying at half mast. Officiating pastor Leon Ramdhan, of Souls Harbour Ministries, told mourners death was a reality of life. He said Seucharan was blessed for his sacrifice. Seucharan was interred at the Tabaquite Cemetery.