A 45-year-old man’s determination to win a bet of Rs 10,000 resulted in grievous injuries and he is now battling for life at the government hospital here.
The man, identified as Jayabal of Thelunganur, who gave a declaration to a magistrate from his hospital bed, claimed that he got injured after he jumped into a deep drain to honour a bet for an amount of Rs 10,000 with his friend, Ravi.
Jayabal, who suffered injuries after the jump, was found lying in the drainage behind the Kottai Mariamman temple here on Friday morning. Passers-by, who spotted him, informed the 108 ambulance and he was rushed to Salem GH. The doctor found him bleeding as a large piece of a glass had pierced his abdomen.
Finding that his condition was clinically serious, his statement was recorded before a magistrate. Jayabal told the magistrate that he had received an advance of `5,000. He has reportedly told the magistrate that the balance amount of `5,000 should be collected from his friend and given to his family in case of his death.
However, Ravi had given a slip after Jayabal successfully jumped into the drainage. The police have launched a search for him.
Jayabal has a 15-year-old daughter, Amudha.