Update: A Givealittle page has been set up by the Auckland Malayali Samajam to help repatriate the body of Teena Kunjappan back to her hometown in Kerala, India.
As earlier reported by the Indian Weekender, Mrs Kunjappan lost her life in a freak drowning accident late in the night on Monday, January 29.
“The collected fund will be used for the transportation, of the body including all documentation and packaging needed to send the body and funeral services,” a post on the Givealittle page said.
So far 15 generous donors have rallied to contribute $810.00.
Ms Kunjappan’s husband Jilu C. John, who arrived in New Zealand on a student visa and was currently on a work visa which expires in August later this year.
Apparently, Mr and Mrs John went for a beachside walk after midnight when they decided to enter into water and got into trouble.
The police reported that two people, a man and a woman got into trouble while swimming at low tide in clothing and they were struggling to the shore.
“The man managed to pull the woman out of the water, at around 1.30 a.m. but the woman, a 29-year-old, unfortunately, died at the scene,” the police media release said.
The man was taken to Nelson Hospital in a moderate condition.
This is the second incident of drowning in the last three weeks where a 26-year-old Indian man was pulled out of water on Waimarama Beach and pronounced dead at the scene.
The death has been referred to the coroner.
The Indian Weekender has been told that Mr John wants to take Teena's body back home to her native place in Kerala, India.
The High Commission of India is informed about the tragic incident and is in touch with the close friend of Mr John, Vishnu, who is supporting him and coordinating with other authorities.
The news has brought grief to the Malayali community and the wider Indian community around the country.
Secretary of Auckland Malayali Samajam Blessan M Jose is in touch with the friends and family of Mr John and is rallying the members of Samajam to provide support to the family at this hour.
When The Indian Weekender last spoke to Blessan M Jose, he was in the process of setting up a Givealittle page to rally community support for helping the family in body repatriation.
Givealittle Page: Raising money to repatriate the remains of Mrs Teena Kunjappan to Kerala, India
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