The victims of Victoria’s worst mass drowning in a decade enjoyed their day on the beach before a huge wave washed them out to sea.
Reema Sondhi, 43, Jagjeet Singh Anand, 23, Suhani Anand, 20, and Kriti Bedi, 20, all tragically died on January 24 in an unsupervised area of Forrest Caves beach on Philip Island.
Ankur Chhabra attended the funeral of his sister, niece, nephew and sister-in-law at Bunurong Memorial Park in Melbourne’s south-east on Thursday.
He said their deaths could have been prevented if they had known how dangerous the rips and currents on the beach were.
All victims drowned in the water despite off-duty rescuers performing CPR on the beach, except Ms Anand who was flown to Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital in a critical condition before dying overnight.
Ankur Chhabra (pictured) revealed his sister, niece, nephew and sister-in-law had the ‘time of their lives’ before a wave pulled them into dangerous currents on Forrest Caves beach
Mr. Anand was a beloved nurse in aged care and Mrs. Anand was studying to become a nurse
Ms Sondhi was a mother of two who traveled from India to Australia to visit family and Ms Bedi also studied to become a nurse
Mr Chhabra said his family had the “time of their lives” as they tried to stay upright, holding hands, until the wave hit them.
“They were all very young and they came here for the better future or just to visit me, and in a few seconds we lost everyone,” Mr Chhabra said. told 7News.
“I try not to cry and lie on the floor because I have to take care of my wife.”
Hundreds of guests gathered in Dandenong South to attend the mass funeral.
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.
‘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.
After the final prayer, loved ones were encouraged to pay their last respects by placing flower petals in the open caskets.
The family are now calling on the Victorian Government to post bold signs on dangerous beaches so other tourists don’t make the same mistake they did.
Forrest Caves beach is notorious for rough surf and although Phillip Island Nature Parks confirmed there are signs warning of this, Mr Chhabra’s family have not seen them.
A park official said these signs warn people not to swim at the beach and new signs are expected to be installed in the next two months.
Ms Sondhi’s partner was also on the beach when she was pulled out to sea on January 25
Ms Anand was flown to Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital in a critical condition but died overnight
“Nature Parks has been working with Life Saving Victoria to review the permanent signs and make minor adjustments, in line with a Council report (Bass Coast Shire Coastal Risk Assessment Report),” Phillip Island Nature Parks told the South Gippsland Sentinel Times.
‘Like the current signs, the new signs also show the no-swimming symbol and warn of dangerous currents and submerged objects.’
Ms Sondhi had traveled to India to visit family and Mr Anand was working as a nurse in aged care, while Ms Anand and Ms Bedi were both studying nursing.
Ms Sondhi is survived by two children, whose father was on the beach when the wave washed her away.
Before the funeral service, friends of the victims’ family raised nearly $82,000 in a GoFundMe.
Funds were used to pay funeral costs, and flights to guarantee return flights to take immediate family members from India to Melbourne.
In an update posted on Tuesday, Mr Chhabra thanked everyone who had donated.
“You have all been with me, as have my family. I have no words to express. My thanks to you,” he wrote.
Hundreds of guests attended the mass funeral at Bunurong Memorial Park in Melbourne’s south-east on Thursday
The family is now calling on the Victorian Government to install clearer signs to let tourists know if beaches are dangerous (pictured, emergency workers present on January 25)
