Sai Surya Tej Rachakonda’s tragic drowning at Surfers Paradise tower Condor apartments ‘never should have happened’, resident says
An engineer was fondly remembered by friends for his ‘fun, joyous nature’ after his tragic swimming pool death. But the death never should have happened, a neighbour says.
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An engineer was fondly remembered by friends as “an excellent fast bowler” and for his “fun, joyous nature” after his tragic swimming pool death.
But the death never should have happened, according to a neighbour.
Sai Surya Tej Rachakonda was pulled unconscious from the bottom of a pool at the Condor Ocean View Apartments in Surfers Paradise on Monday night.
Sadly, he could not be revived.
In a tribute online his friend Vinay Kumar revealed the recent Deakin Universitygraduate had only just secured his dream job as a civil engineer and moved to the Gold Coast for work.
Mr Kumar said his friend went for a swim at his accommodation about 6pm after finishing his regular shift at work on Monday night.
“Unfortunately, he may have lost control this time around, rendering him unconscious and later declared dead,” he said.
“His death is a tragic loss to his family, friends, colleagues, and anyone who has met him or known him. He has left family and friends in great sorrow.”
Mr Kumar said his friend regularly went swimming as part of his ongoing recovery from a traumatic road crash he was involved in while studying in Melbourne in 2020.
“Surya was an exemplary individual known for his determination, dedication, resilience and joyous, fun nature at the same time,” he said.
Mr Rachakonda’s death was the second in 18 months, which according Condor long-term resident Diarne Revelle “never should have happened”.
She said the pool Mr Rachakonda drowned in did not meet council and building regulations, its shallow end had sunk into the pavement and the property wasn’t monitored at night.
The drowning was not the first tragedy to shock residents of the building.
On November 17 2020, Mariah Huthmann-Grace died after falling from the 22nd floor of the building.
She left behind six children. Her death was not treated as suspicious.
“This is the second body in two years – something is wrong,” Ms Revelle said.
“My heart is really bleeding for his parents and their pain of losing a son in an accident that never should have happened in a building.”
A body corporate employee for the Condor, who asked not to be named, said the resident’s claims about the safety and maintenance of the building were incorrect.
“Everything (meets) council standards as far as the pool and its fencing,” he said.
“There are cameras that monitor all areas of the building – the cameras operate 24/7.”
A GoFundMe page has been set up to send Mr Rachakonda’s body home to India and pay for his funeral.
Tragic history: Man’s drowning marks ‘another death’ at building - March 8
The drowning death of a man at a Surfers Paradise high rise is not the first tragedy to shock residents of the building.
A man aged in his mid-20s died after diving into a pool at the Condor Ocean View Apartments on Monday night.
Emergency services were called to the scene on Riverview Pde just before 6pm where paramedics worked on him, but he could not be revived.
Police said the man was pulled unconscious from the bottom of a pool at the apartments.
A long-term resident of the building, who asked not to be named, described the tragedy as: “Another death at Condor. It’s so wrong.”
On November 17 2020, Mariah Huthmann-Grace died after falling from the 22nd floor of the building.
She left behind six children. Her death was not treated as suspicious.
A Melbourne couple staying at the Condor on holiday said they had no idea a drowning had occurred.
“We didn’t hear a thing, but we saw ambulances,” a Melbourne woman said. Police are not treating the man’s death as suspicious.
“Emergency services attended but the man could not be revived,” a police spokeswoman said.
Police will be preparing a report for the coroner.
Queensland Ambulance senior operations supervisor David Martin urged people to never swim alone.
“Please just make sure someone knows where you are and what you’re doing so they can keep an eye on you,” he said.
If you or anyone you know needs help, phone Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Man dies after diving into resort pool on Gold Coast
Earlier: A man has died after diving into a resort pool on the Gold Coast on Monday night.
It’s understood the man jumped into a pool at a Surfers Paradise resort and didn’t resurface.
Emergency services were called to the scene on Riverview Pde just before 6pm where paramedics worked on him, but he could not be revived.
Police said the man, aged in his 20s, was pulled unconscious from the bottom of a pool at the apartments.
“Emergency services attended but the man could not be revived,” a police spokeswoman said.
“The death is not considered suspicious.”
Police will be preparing a report for the coroner.
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