Kiama drowning: how a holiday ended in tragedy

Life was sweet for Deep Hemantkumar Ghelani.The 22-year-old Indian national had just secured a new job and finished his second semester at university.To celebrate, Mr Ghelani decided to visit Kiama for a "long weekend holiday" with friends.The decision cost him his life.The Parramatta resident travelled to Kiama with six others by train last Sunday, where they explored the renowned blowhole and surrounding area."He and a good friend had just finished their exams, so they decided they wanted to have a good break, but up until Saturday they didn't know where they were heading," close friend Nevil Shah told the Mercury.Eager to have a closer look at the rugged coastline, Mr Ghelani left his friends behind to explore a rock face."They decided to sit on the rocks near the blowhole and all his other friends were wet so they were trying to dry their shoes and stuff," Mr Ghelani's cousin, Jalpa Mavani, said. "He said to his friends that he is just going a little further.""He asked them to join him. He went a little further and disappeared behind the cliff."After the friends put their shoes back on, they followed Mr Ghelani, but couldn't find him."They (then) went back up to the lighthouse. (When they couldn't locate him there either, they) reported him missing to local police at Kiama," Ms Mavani said.Rescue crews began a search that afternoon but it was later halted due to bad light.The search resumed on Monday and Mr Ghelani's body was located about 2pm in waters 4km north of Kiama Blowhole.Mr Shah said his friend had been a loving person who was dedicated to his studies and career."He finished his exam last week, he was in second semester of his Bachelor in Information Technology at the Central Queensland University's Sydney campus," he said. "In a week's time he was about to start a new job with a marketing agency."Ms Mavani has launched a public appeal to help raise the $6000 needed to send Mr Ghelani's body home to his parents in Gujarat, India.She described him as a "loving and caring person" who was always willing to help out people in need. "He was a bright student, he was very good with people and he was much loved."She said Mr Ghelani's mother had not been notified of her son's death because of health problems."His mother is not very well. She has high blood pressure and couldn't bare the shock of this news. She shouldn't be advised until his body gets there," Ms Mavani said."The family is so devastated already."All I want is for people to help his father and try to help the family out."We can't help his father with losing his son but we can help him by sending his son back to India."That's all I can say."Anyone wanting to donate to the family can do so through the Indian Student Benevolent Fund.The fund was set up four years ago to assist with student-related tragedies.The fund's founder, Samir Patel, has urged all community members to support family members in their efforts to transport Mr Ghelani's body home.Anyone interested in assisting can contact Mr Patel on 0401 659 988.