Australian holiday turns to tragedy as student drowns at Cronulla

A student has drowned after being swept off rocks on a popular Sydney beach. Now her family are raising funds to try and bring her body home.

A woman’s Australian holiday has turned to tragedy after she drowned at a popular Sydney beach. Picture: Supplied.

An international student has drowned after being swept off the rocks at Cronulla beach. Katherine Sandoval, from Colombia, tragically died on Sunday during a trip to the popular south Sydney beach.

Ms Sandoval and her friends were walking across the rocks when they were knocked over by a huge wave.

The others were able to stay on the rocks but Ms Sanoval was dragged out to sea.

Her pastor Ezequiel Medina told Daily Mail Australia that the wave came out of the blue.

“She was a good swimmer but she hit her head on the way down and she couldn’t get back up,’ he said.

Mr Medina has set up a GoFundMe page for Ms Sandoval’s family so they can bring her body home.

Writing on the fundraising page Mr Medina said: “Our loved friend Katherine Sandoval tragically lost her life when a wave swept her away from the rocks at Cronulla.

“Despite of the efforts of the friends to try to reach her, there was nothing they could do and sadly she lost her life.”

Katherine Sandoval, a student from Colombia, died at Cronulla on Sunday. Picture: GoFundMe.

A recreational boat in the Bate Bay area alerted the Marine Area Command to the incident, reporting that a woman was in the water, unconscious and not breathing.

Ms Sandoval declared dead by NSW Ambulance paramedics.

The young student, from Bogotá was remembered by loved ones as a “beautiful soul”.

“She was a kind and lovely person, always with an encouraging word to lift you up,” Mr Medina said.

In the wake of the tragedy, Katherine’s family is fighting to have her body returned home, a process that can cost up to $20,000.

A fundraiser to repatriate Katherine’s body so she can be laid to rest by grieving family members has raised $15,560 from 392 donations.

The young student was remembered as a "beautiful soul". Picture: Facebook.

“Katherine was on a student visa, and we are trying to raise money to be able to send her body back for her family in Colombia,” Mr Medina said.

“We really need your help to get Katherine back to her family.”

Money that is not used for the repatriation will go towards funeral costs in Colombia, he added.

Diego Rosta, who donated to the fundraiser, wrote: “un granito de arena”.

The Spanish saying literally translates to “a grain of sand”, encouraging people to contribute whatever small amount they can to a larger cause.

“God rest her soul,” another person wrote.

“My best wishes and my deepest condolences to her family. May God be with her and comforting her Family. God bless them!” added a third.