The family and friends of the four people who died in Victoria’s worst drowning in 20 years were farewelled at a joint Hindi funeral service.
A road trip to Forrest Caves Beach on Phillip Island ended in tragedy after family members Kirti Bedi, 20, Reema Sondhi, 42, and siblings Suhani Anand, 20, and Jagjeet Singh Anand, 23, fell into a deadly rip while swimming.
On Thursday, hundreds of guests gathered at Bunurong Memorial Park in Dandenong South in Melbourne’s southeast.
Speaking at the service, which was delivered largely in Hindi and Punjabi, a family friend said the deaths would leave a “void” that “cannot be filled” and offered his condolences to the families of the victims.
A road trip to Forrest Caves Beach on Phillip Island ended in tragedy after relatives Kirti Bedi, 20, (pictured) and her friends
20-year-old Suhani Anand student from Melbourne also drowned
Reema Sondhi, 42, (pictured) was visiting Melbourne from India. She leaves behind two children
Aged care nurse Jagjeet Singh, 23, died with his friends on Phillip Island
‘I understand very well that deep down we are all hurt. We can feel the sadness and we extend our sincere condolences to these families who have suffered a loss,” he said, sharing his speech in English.
“Sorrow is the price of our love for someone,” he said, quoting a famous quote from Queen Elizabeth II.
He also thanked Victoria Police and authorities who “supported the family who have suffered losses during these difficult times.”
After the final prayer, loved ones were encouraged to pay their last respects by placing flower petals in the open caskets.
Before the service, friends of the victims’ family raised nearly $82,000 through a GoFundMe.
Funds were used to pay funeral costs, and flights to guarantee return flights to take immediate family members from India to Melbourne.
On Thursday, hundreds of guests gathered at Bunurong Memorial Park in Dandenong South in Melbourne’s southeast to say their goodbyes
Before the service, friends of the victims’ family raised nearly $82,000 through a GoFundMe
Speaking at the service, which was delivered largely in Hindi and Punjabi, a family friend said: “Grief is the price of our love for someone,” a famous quote from Queen Elizabeth II.
In an update shared by Ms Sondhi’s sister Ankur Chabra also said that the funeral ashes would be ‘brought back to their respective places back to India’.
“Thank you all for supporting (sic),” she wrote in a shared post on Tuesday.
“You have all been with me, as have my family. I have no words to express. My thanks to you.’
Forrest Caves Beach, where the drowning occurred, is known as a notoriously difficult swimming spot with dangerous rips and rough surf.
By the time emergency services arrived, Mr Singh, Ms Bedi and Ms Sondhi had died at the scene.
Ms Anand was transported to Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital in a critical condition; however, she died a day later.
Forrest Caves Beach, where the drowning occurred, is known as a notoriously difficult swimming spot with dangerous waves and rough surf
By the time emergency services arrived, Mr Singh, Ms Bedi and Ms Sondhi had died at the scene
Ms Anand was transported to Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital in a critical condition; however, she died a day later
At the time of the tragic incident, Ms Sondhi had traveled from India to Melbourne to visit her brother’s family in Clyde. She leaves behind two children, both of whom live in India.
Mr Singh was a registered nurse and was described by the organizers of the GoFundMe campaign as having a ‘heart of gold’.
Ms Anand and Ms Sondhi were both studying nursing