Indian engineering student drowns in New Zealand during Easter outing with friends

A 21-year-old Indian student from Mumbai, Shaurya Sriram, drowned in a lake in New Zealand during an Easter holiday trip with friends. The student from the University of Auckland was pulled from the lake after struggling in deeper waters. He was unconscious when rescued and could not be revived.

A 21-year-old Indian engineering student on Sunday (April 5) died after drowning in New Zealand's Lake Taupo. The incident took place when Shaurya Sriram, who hails from Mumbai, went on an outing during the Easter long weekend with his friends, reported the New Zealand-based news outlet, NZ Herald.

The engineering student's death has left his family in Mumbai devastated and a community rallying to bring his body home.

Sriram was an engineering student at the University of Auckland, and drowned during the trip to a popular resort town, Whakamoenga Point. Sriram had only just turned 21 on March 1 and had begun his new academic year just five days before the tragedy.

According to his friends, Sriram, after entering the lake for a swim, began to struggle in the water, reported Indian Newslink, a New Zealand-based news outlet. Following that, a friend pulled him out of the water to the lake's shore, but he was unconscious. Emergency services were then called to Whakamoenga Point in Acacia Bay.

Despite resuscitation attempts by a friend at the scene, emergency responders and the medical staff at Rotorua Hospital, Srimram was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The death has been referred to the Coroner, an official who is responsible for conducting investigations to ascertain the cause of death.

"Sadly, despite best efforts, the person died at the scene," a police spokesperson told the NZ Herald.

According to a report by the Indian Newslink, Sriram was the only child of Sunny and Sudha Sriram, former New Zealand permanent residents of more than two decades who had returned to settle in Mumbai's Powai. His father is currently unwell, and the family lives on modest means.

"Mr Sriram has suffered a setback to his health, while Sudha is also devastated. They are unable to come to terms with the tragedy. It could take a long time," family friend Alamelu Badrinarayanan told the Indian Newslink.

Melbourne-based relative Shankar Ramaswamy flew to New Zealand on Sunday to handle the necessary formalities.

The Consul General of India in Auckland, Madan Mohan Sethi, has pledged to expedite the documentation required for repatriation. However, the cost of transporting Shaurya's body to Mumbai is estimated at $18,000, which is a significant burden for the family. Community leaders are now fundraising to cover the expense, reported Indian Newslink.

Another local news outlet, The Indian Weekender, citing family friends, confirmed that Shaurya Sriram had entered the lake during the trip but began struggling. He felt unconscious in the water before he could be reached in time. His friend pulled him to shore and urgently called for help.

The NZ Herald reported the incident in brief, noting that "a person" had died after being pulled unconscious from the water at Whakamoenga Point, with the death referred to the Coroner. The victim was not identified in the Herald's report.

Community organisation Muthamil Sangam Auckland President Sheba Soundrarajan was among the community leaders who spoke to the Indian Newslink about Sriram's death, reflecting the grief felt widely across Auckland's Indian community.

Lake Taupo, one of New Zealand's most visited natural destinations, is also the nation's largest lake. It has a sobering history of drowning incidents.

Authorities and community members are urging visitors to exercise caution around the water, particularly during holiday periods when recreational activity peaks.

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