The Kiwi Indian nurse who passed away at work nearly two weeks ago due to a possible heart attack has been laid to rest at Manukau Memorial Gardens on Tuesday, December 8.
43-year-old Suresh Vengetaraman was working with Counties Manukau DHB specialised in mental health suffered a medical incident at work on November 25 and died as a result.
Mr Vengetaraman is survived by his wife Pauline (aka Nava) and two children, 13-year-old son Timothy and five-year-old daughter Tabitha, and his extended family in India and the United Kingdom.
He was due to celebrate his birthday last week on December 1.
The spokesperson for the family grieving with this untimely demise of their loved one, Pastor David Seevaratnam said more people from his work and whanau attended Suresh’s funeral than expected.
Speaking to the Indian Weekender, Pastor David said Suresh was at work at a place where he started feeling uneasy attending a child when he excused himself and went out for fresh air.
He complained of heartburn and rested in the sick room before going to the bathroom and collapsing there. He was attended by his colleague when he felt sick who also called the paramedics upon seeing him down.
Emergency services assisted him in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, but he died despite repeated attempts by the ambulance staff.
The news of his sudden demise has saddened his colleagues, friends and family who recall him as a cheerful, caring and fun-loving family person.
“We are still getting to the grips of the tragedy,” friend and Haemodialysis Educator at Auckland District Health Board Fredric Doss said.
Mr Vengetaraman hailed from Vellore city in South India and Post Graduate Diploma in Dialysis Therapy starting his career as a Dialysis Therapist/Renal Physiologist.
He then moved to National Kidney Foundation (NKFS) Singapore before migrating to New Zealand in 2004. Here in NZ, he worked as a Renal Physiologist at Auckland DHB and Waitemata DHB.
He later pursued his aspirations to become a Registered Nurse specialised in mental Health at Counties Manukau DHB in 2016.
“Suresh was an adventurist and evinced interest in Fishing, Jet Skiing, Driving and Hunting. At home, he was a cook, fixed his car, and did gardening. He cherished fellowship with friends as well as the Church community.
“He enjoyed spending time with his children. Work-life Balance was a skill that he developed well and recommended to all his friends,” Mr Doss said.
Another friend of Mr Vengetaraman said he primarily worked in schools and loved his time working with children and assisting them there.
Mr Vengetaraman was well known in his neighbourhood, at the workplace and the community and everyone who received the news of his sudden demise mourned the loss of a good soul, his friend said.
Mr Vengetaraman died at the same age as his father, 43, who died of a coronary heart attack.
“He was closely connected with the New Testament church in Pakuranga and his family is grieving the loss with the faith that he has gone to meet his father,” Pastor David said.
Friends of the Mr Vengetaraman’s family have started a Givealittle page to raise funds to cover his funeral expenses and family regeneration and support.
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