ACT’s Congolese community pleads for help after Jonas Safari, 21, drowns at Pine Island

Canberra’s Congolese community is mourning the death of a young man who has been identified as the victim of a tragic drowning at one of the capital’s most popular swimming hotspots.

Drowning victim Jonas Safari. Picture: Supplied

Canberra’s Congolese community is mourning the death of a young man who has been identified as the victim of a tragic drowning at one of the capital’s most popular swimming hotspots.

Jonas Safari, 21, drowned at Pine Island, on the Murrumbidgee River in the ACT, on Sunday afternoon, when a horrified onlooker later described hearing “a man screaming from the water” in his final moments.

ACT Policing said emergency services had responded about 6pm to reports a man had failed to resurface while swimming in the river.

Australian Federal Police divers found his body in the water about 7.50pm, following a search.

The following day, family and friends expressed their shock and grief on social media.

A 21-year-old man has drowned at Pine Island in Canberra's south. Picture: ABC

“Rest in eternal peace young brother Jonas,” relative Akon Safari posted to Facebook.

“I know you are in a better place in paradise with your brother Moses.”

Balume Nyakalala wrote: “I am so sorry for the tragedy that befell Papa Safari again. May Jehovah God comfort you.”

The Congolese community of Canberra has since launched a GoFundMe page to raise money for Mr Safari’s grieving family, including his mother, Juliet Asifiwe, and his four younger siblings.

Jonas Safari drowned at the popular ACT swimming hotspot on Sunday afternoon. Picture: ABC

“It is with great sadness and sorrow that we have lost one of our youth in the Canberra community after a tragic drowning at Pine Island,” organisers wrote.

“Jonas was a Congolese Kenyan living in Canberra since 2020.

“The family and community are still coming to terms with this traumatic incident. Pray for the family and friends who were there with Jonas.”

As of Wednesday afternoon, the GoFundMe page had raised just under $2000 of its $25,000 target.

The funds will be used to arrange Mr Safari’s funeral and financially support his surviving family members.

A memorial service is expected to take place on January 12.

People wishing to help the family can do so through the GoFundMe page, or by joining the WhatsApp group listed in the page’s description.