Indian national Upmanyu Sharma has died after an incident at Hunua Falls, South of Auckland in New Zealand on Sunday.
Sharma, who hails from Haryana, was reported missing after he failed to surface while swimming at the waterfall in the Hunua Ranges on Sunday.
Emergency services closed the access to Hunua Falls while attending the incident on Sunday however, had to call off the search operation in the evening after being unable to locate the body.
Source: Google Maps
The search resumed on Monday morning and the police dive squad recovered Sharma’s body from the waters in the afternoon.
The waterfall has often been termed as ‘beautiful but dangerous’ which has claimed lives before.
The waterfall is 30 metres high and the pool beneath is almost 20 metres deep, featuring a steep drop-off where many swimmers have come into difficulty. The falls claimed lives of two teenagers in 2016 prompting calls for Auckland Council to restrict access.
The death has been referred to the Coroner.
The site where Upmanyu Sharma was reported missing. Source: Wikimedia Commons
The Indian High Commission in New Zealand, Mr Sanjiv Kohli called it a ‘heartbreaking incident.’
The High Commission is in touch with the deceased’s family in India for the repatriation of his body, Mr Kohli said.
“As soon as the local police informed the High Commission of this unfortunate incident, we immediately established contact with friends and family of the deceased both here as well as in India and have offered all assistance in the repatriation of mortal remains,” Mr Kohli told SBS Hindi.
“We are liaising with local police authorities, Coroner’s Office and Funeral Director to ensure timely completion of the procedural requirements,” he added.
