A 21-year-old Indian-origin engineering student from Mumbai has died after drowning in a lake in New Zealand during an Easter holiday trip with friends, leaving his family seeking urgent assistance to bring his body home.
The student, identified as Shaurya, was pulled unconscious from Lake Taupō at Whakamoenga Point in Acacia Bay on Sunday, April 5. Emergency services were alerted at around 3:20 pm, but despite efforts by first responders, he could not be revived and was declared dead at the scene.
Police confirmed the incident, stating that a person had been retrieved from the water but could not be saved. The case has been referred to the Coroner, as per standard procedure.
According to family friends, Shaurya had travelled to Taupō with friends for the Easter break. During the outing, he entered the lake but began struggling in the water. His friends managed to pull him out, but attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.
Shaurya was pursuing engineering at the University of Auckland and was described by those who knew him as dedicated and enthusiastic about his studies and life abroad.
His family in Mumbai has been left devastated by the tragedy and is now seeking urgent support to expedite the repatriation of his body to India.
Authorities in New Zealand are continuing formal procedures as part of the investigation.
