Father of drowned Indian girl Nitisha Negi reveals he told her to take care before tragedy

THE father of a teenage Indian soccer player who drowned at Glenelg has spoken out about his grief from New Delhi.

• Government to pay for return of Nitisha Negi’s body to India

THE father of a teenage Indian girl who drowned at Glenelg on the weekend has spoken out about his grief from his home in New Delhi.

Nitisha Negi, 15, was visiting Adelaide with her soccer team from India for the Pacific School Games when they went to Glenelg beach on Sunday before flying home.

The girl’s father, Piran Singh Negi, told Indian media he knew about the drowning from family members of four other girls, who were rescued from the water.

He said two hours later the School Games Federation of India confirmed the incident.

On Sunday afternoon, lifesavers and police launched a frantic water and air search for the missing girl but had to call it off due to lack of light.

Indian Pacific School Games spokesman Surender Chahal, left, at the Glenelg breakwater where the body of Nitisha Negi was retrieved on Monday. Picture: AAP/Mike Burton

Rescuers look for Nitisha off the breakwater at Glenelg on Sunday. Four other girls were rescued after they were in trouble in the water. AAP Image/ Brenton Edwards

Nitisha’s body was recovered near the notorious breakwaters the next morning.

Mr Negi said he had last spoke to his daughter on Friday after the match.

The teen had called him on her friend’s phone as she had lost her own.

“They had lost the game, so I told her to take care of herself and come back soon,” he said.

“When the incident took place, we don’t know who was with them.

“It was me who informed officials that such an incident has happened.

“My daughter does not know how to swim.”

Floral tribute left on the sand for Nitisha Negi near the Glenelg breakwater. Pic AAP/Mike Burton

Authorities said the young soccer player was on the rocks when she was swept into the waters by a wave.

Two 17-year-olds were taken to Flinders Medical Centre where one was in a critical condition. Another 17-year-old was rushed to Royal Adelaide Hospital in a serious condition while a 12-year-old was taken to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

The grieving father said his daughter had been playing football for the last five years.

In a statement to Nine News, Mr Negi said: “She was the charm of our family, which is finished now”.

The State Government will pay to repatriate the body of Nitisha back to her family in India.

A distressed teammate was helping to look for Nitisha on Sunday. AAP Image/ Brenton Edwards