Four Indians, who were allegedly swimming at an unpatrolled location, died after drowning at the Phillip Island beach in Australia’s Victoria.
Among those who died in a mass drowning incident near Forrest Caves Beach in Melbourne were three woman and a man. One of the women was from Punjab’s Phagwara.
“Heart breaking tragedy in Australia: 4 Indians lost their lives in a drowning incident at Phillip Island, Victoria. Deepest condolences to families of the victims. The team of the Consulate General of India in Melbourne is in touch with friends of the deceased for all necessary assistance,” the Indian High Commission in Australia informed in a post on X.
According to news.com.au report, the victims - a man and two women in their 20s, and a woman in her 40s - were from an extended family and they were found unresponsive in the water on Wednesday afternoon.
The off duty lifeguard received distress calls around 3:30 pm (local time) on 24 January, reporting four individuals in distress in the water. "They tried desperately to save the group," the report added.
The man and two women died at the scene, while the third woman aged in her 20s was rushed to The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, police said. Later, she also succumbed to her injuries.
The 43-year-old woman who died of drowning was holidaying in Australia, Victoria Police Eastern Region Assistant Commissioner, Karen Nyholm said, adding that the other three victims lived in the Melbourne suburb of Clyde.
Emergency services are believing that the group was wading in the water before being caught in a rip.
Who are four Indians drowned in Australia?
As per a report in Punjab News Express, one of the deceased woman has been identified as one Reema, who is said to be the daughter-in-law of Phagwara industrialist Om Sondhi.
The report quoted former councillor Vijay Sondhi, elder brother of Om Sondhi, saying along with Reema, her husband Sanjeev and his brothers went to Australia for a vacation. Reema’s sister Suhani (22) and a brother, both residents of Solan in Himachal Pradesh, also drowned in the mishap. Sanjeev was however rescued by the local police, the report added.
The report also quoted police as saying it seemed to be a group of about 10 people.
Considered to be a famous tourist destination, Forrest Caves Beach is known for its sea caves, but has also earned a reputation among locals as a perilous swimming spot, devoid of lifeguard patrols.
With inputs from agencies
