The Indian community in Australia is mourning the deaths of two men who drowned at a beach near the New South Wales city of Coffs Harbour, on the state's north coast. A third man is also missing after the three got into caught in a rip while trying to rescue younger family members from the sea.
It was on 17th December that two Indian families from Sydney and Brisbane reunited at scenic Moonee Beach in northern New South Wales to spend their summer holidays together. Among the family friends were two girls, aged 15 and 17, and a 15-year-old boy. When they and another family member got into trouble in the water, 45-year-old Mohammad Ghouseuddin ran into the sea to try to save them. His brother-in-law, Syed Rahath, followed him in, but both men were no match for the deadly current.
While the three teenagers survived, the two men had to be pulled from the surf and could not be revived.
A third man, 28-year-old Mohammad Abdul Junaid is also feared drowned, but his body has not been found.
The Indian Muslim Association of Australia's Arshad Khan says the drownings have left the community appalled as it is the third incidence in the last 2 and half month.
