The community has been left in shock following the death of 25-year-old Indian man, Beant Singh Brar following a mid-air medical episode, possibly a heart attack.
A Hong Kong Airlines flight made an emergency landing in Darwin last Thursday after Mr Singh stopped breathing.
He was travelling back to his native town in Faridkot district of Punjab, India, when this tragedy struck.
Mr Singh’s Auckland-based cousin Manjinder Singh Brar, who has started a Facebook fundraiser, thanked the community for their financial assistance.
“On behalf of Singh family, I’d like to thank everyone who tried to help the family at such a tough time. The funds raised will go to Beant’s family who is going through financial hardship,” he said. Beant came to New Zealand three years ago on a spouse visa and was the only son of his parents.
so far from more than 450 donations in just two days of setting up this fundraiser.
Source: Supplied
Mr Brar is now in process of supplying the necessary paperwork to Facebook to retrieve this money in order to send it to Beant’s family in Punjab.
He told SBS Punjabi that the family and friends have been left shocked and in disbelief by Beant's death.
“It’s very tragic. We can’t believe it that he left us at such a young age,” he said.
A community activist Manjit Boparai is assisting in repatriating Mr Singh’s mortal remains to India for his last rites.
“I am in touch with the funeral services from Darwin who will send the body back to India. We hope to get it done by this Sunday,” said Mr Boparai.
“The Indian High Commission has been very kind to not only offer financial assistance for the funeral services but also to assist us with the necessary paperwork.”
“They [Indian Consulate] have been very prompt in this service and we really appreciate their help.”
It is understood Mr Singh suffered a medical episode, possibly a heart attack during a flight from Auckland to Hong Kong.
Navya Sistla who was on board in the same flight refuted the media claims that a doctor tried to save his life.
“The flight attendants tried their best but there wasn’t any doctor on board at the time when he collapsed,” she told SBS Punjabi.
A coroner, police and ambulance services were on scene at the Darwin airport to assess the situation.
