SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 2024
Team Herald
In a devastating incident at an unpatrolled beach near Melbourne, Australia, three young Indian women and a male youth lost their lives in what authorities are calling the worst tragedy in the state of Victoria in decades. The victims have been identified as 23-year-old Jagjeet Singh Anand, students Suhani Anand and Kirti Bedi, both 20, and 43-year-old Reema Sondhi.
The group, consisting of approximately 10 individuals, had gathered for a day out at Phillip Island on Wednesday when the accident occurred. Reema Sondhi, visiting her family in Australia for the past two weeks, was the daughter-in-law of industrialist Om Sondhi from Phagwara in India’s Punjab state. Reema's husband, Sanjeev, was also part of the group but survived the tragic incident.
Jagjeet Singh Anand, a Melbourne-based nurse and permanent resident of Australia, was among the victims, while Suhani Anand and Bedi were on student visas. All three younger victims hailed from Clyde, a suburb of Melbourne, and are believed to be related, according to reports.
The unfortunate incident unfolded near Forrest Caves, close to Cape Woolamai, on the Bass Strait side of Phillip Island’s southeastern peninsula. Off-duty lifeguards who happened to be surfing nearby rushed to their aid after the group encountered difficulties in the water. Despite their swift response, three individuals were pulled from the water unresponsive.
Life-Saving Victoria commander Kane Treloar reported that lifeguards from Cape Woolamai were alerted around 3:40 pm on Wednesday, and a rescue boat successfully retrieved the fourth person. Tragically, three of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while one of the 20-year-old women was resuscitated and airlifted to The Alfred Hospital. Unfortunately, she succumbed to the incident and passed away in the hospital, as confirmed by the police on Thursday.
The deaths are not considered suspicious, and authorities will compile a report for the coroner. Local media coverage has brought attention to the absence of lifeguards at the unpatrolled beach, underscoring the inherent risks associated with swimming in such locations.
