13 November 2024

Hunua Falls drowning victim was Upmanyu Sharma

The swimmer who was swept into the water near the Hunua Falls in Auckland region, and reported missing on Sunday, was 23-years-old, Upmanyu Sharma.

The police today confirmed the body found yesterday by the police dive squad was that of Sharma who belonged to Karnal (India).

Police were called there on Sunday, 20 January around 2.30pm to reports of a person missing in water.

The Land Search and Rescue team, along with police and the police chopper was deployed while the access way to the falls was closed. 

The search party and police dive team resumed the search yesterday morning. Later they announced the recovery of a male body in his twenties who was reported missing in the water yesterday afternoon.

As per protocol, the next of kin was notified first and today the identity was confirmed to be that of Upmanyu Sharma.

The death has been referred to the Coroner.

Hunua Falls is a popular swimming spot, the waterfall is 30 metres high. The pool at the bottom of the falls is almost 20 metres deep with a steep drop off where swimmers can find themselves in trouble very quickly.

In 2016, two teenagers died in two separate drowning incidents here.

Over the past few years, many Indians have become victims of drowning (and fatal road accidents) and majority of these victims were here either to study, or were on working visas. NewsViews would shortly be doing a separate story on this and what needs to be done in our coloumn ‘Focus’.

Get Noticed –  

from NewsViews

Like NewsViews