89-year-old Kiwi Indian passes away aboard flight to India

An elderly Indian New Zealander died aboard a flight to India on Wednesday, November 11, before the aircraft landed in Malaysia for a scheduled stop, The Indian Weekender has learnt.

Santokh Singh Bodal, 89, was travelling to India from New Zealand on his annual trip when he is believed to have suffered a cardiac before the flight was due to land in Malaysia, his second son, Iqbal Singh Bodal, told The Indian Weekender.

Santokh was travelling with his elder son, daughter-in-law and grandson when the incident occurred.

Iqbal said his father had returned from the washroom when his elder son checked whether he was feeling alright.

"He came back from the washroom and his elder son asked Santokh if he was doing alright, to which he responded yes," Iqbal recalled.

He said his elder brother then asked their father whether he had eaten anything, to which Santokh replied that he had.

"Then he got an attack," Iqbal told The Indian Weekender.

Following the collapse, two Indian doctors, a man and a woman, who were also travelling to India from Hamilton, came forward to assist the family, Iqbal said.

"After the plane staff made the announcement, the doctors came to give him CPR."

"They spent a considerable time to revive him but nothing happened," he said.

The family in New Zealand is now making arrangements to repatriate Santokh's body back to New Zealand, with assistance from the High Commission of India and the Consulate General of India.

Community leader Kharag Singh, a family friend of Iqbal, has also stepped in to assist with the arrangements, having previously dealt with similar cases.

Santokh was a former president of the Supreme Sikh Society and had also served the organisation as a cashier. He was involved in langar seva for 10 years, his son Iqbal said.

Originally from Hoshiarpur district in Punjab, Santokh arrived in New Zealand in 1999.

The Indian Weekender extends its heartfelt prayers and strength to the family during this difficult time.