KUALA LUMPUR: Veterinarian Dr N. Yogeswary used her body to shield her children from debris and died after a beam fell on her back, fracturing her ribs and causing massive internal bleeding.

Dr N. Yogeswary operated her veterinary practice around her children’s activities

However, the 40-year-old mother's sacrifice was not in vain as her children Avinish and Pryanka, aged 11 and 3, escaped the devastating landslide which flattened their home in Taman Bukit Mewah here yesterday morning.

Dr Yogeswary's husband, K. Thanarajah, 40, and their second child, 10-year-old Thivesh, survived the disaster although they were initially trapped in another part of the house.

Both were saved by Fire and Rescue Department personnel. Thanarajah, an engineer, fractured his arm while Thivesh suffered leg injuries.

Thanarajah received outpatient treatment at the Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre where Thivesh was warded.
Dr Yogeswary's brother, K. Jayabalan, 34, said his sister's neighbours called him at 4am informing him that her house had collapsed.

"I live about 2km away in Kelab Ukay and immediately rushed to my sister's house. I found Avinish and Pryanka standing outside the house.

"I made sure the children were safe before going into the house with several neighbours, calling out for the rest of the family.

"Thanarajah and Thivesh responded to our calls but we could not get to them."

Rescuers arrived shortly and managed to free the trapped father and son. Dr Yogeswary's body was later recovered from the rubble and sent to Kuala Lumpur Hospital.

It is learnt that Dr Yogeswary was hugging her children close to her body to shield them from falling debris as she tried to get them to safety.

Friends told the New Straits Times that Dr Yogeswary was Chinese by birth but had been adopted by an Indian family.

She traced her biological parents through advertisements in newspapers and had been in close contact with them since then.

Dr Yogeswary operates her own clinic in Wangsa Maju and her operating hours revolved around her children's activities.