An Indian student drowned at Semaphore Beach in South Australia while taking part in Holi festival.
Alpesh Kumar Patel, 25 year old, was the only son of a poor family and had taken out a loan to study in Australia.
Alpesh is survived by his wife Shweta, who was living with him at Enfield while he studied at the University of South Australia and an IT course through Victoria’s Ballart based Federation University.
Alpesh could not swim but went in the water to bathe with friends near the breakwater at Semaphore Beach.
Indian Australian Association of SA (IAASA) secretary Deepak Bhardwaj told The Advertiser that Alpesh was an active member of Indian community and “whenever we had any functions … he always attended.”
Mr Bhardwaj added - “They were in chest-high water, standing there and enjoying, when he slips and then he starts panicking.’’
The Advertiser reports that another family which was swimming nearby came to the friends’ help but were not able to save Alpesh.
“Alpesh’s wife wants to bring her parents here because is alone and so depressed,” Mr Bhardwaj said.
The IAASA is organising a condolence meeting in memory of Alpesh.
