Phillip Island tragedy: Tributes pour in for the four drowning victims

Family and friends of the four people who drowned at Phillip Island this week have broken their silence as the community rallies to support them.

Family and friends of the four people who drowned at Phillip Island this week have broken their silence as the community rallies to support them.

Reema Sondhi, 42, Jagjeet Anand, 23, his younger sister Suhani Anand and Kirti Bedi, both 20, were swept into rough waters off the coast of Phillip Island on Wednesday.

A GoFundMe to support the family has raised almost $30,000.

Ms Sodhi, 42, a mother of two, was visiting from India while Mr Singh was a registered aged care nurse who was described as having a “heart of gold” and who had “saved many lives throughout his career”.

His younger sister Suhani and Ms Bedi were both nursing students, who had “planned to stay home and focus on their studies, but life had other plans”.

The tribute called on the community to “come together” not only in mourning but in a “tide of compassion that lifts (the) families above the depths of despair”.

Melbourne student, Suhani Anand, 20, was one of four people who died after drowning at Forrest Caves Beach, near Phillip Island on January 24, 2024. Picture: Supplied

Aged care nurse, Jagjeet Singh, 23, was one of four people who died after drowning at Forrest Caves Beach, near Phillip Island on January 24, 2024. Picture: Supplied

Close family friend Ravinder Singh told news.com.au the families were shock and disbelief.

“Everybody is just devastated,” he said.

“We are trying to rally around them.”

Another family friend Sahil Sharma, said the families needed as much support as they could get.

“They were just tourists travelling during the holidays, nobody expects this on their holidays,” he said.

“This family always tried to support others in difficult times, we are so affected because we’ve seen them helping everyone else.

“It’s just shocking for the whole community, family and the neighbours.

“It’s hard to comprehend, I just can’t believe it.”

The victims were all Punjabi Indian, sending shockwaves throughout the fast-growing community.

Harinder Kaur, a Punjabi leader and CEO of the Harman Foundation told news.com.au what made the tragedy even more devastating was that in the minutes before the four died, a local walking her dog had warned one of the family members on the shore that the water was dangerous.

He had valiantly shouted at them to come back seconds before they drowned.

A picture posted on Reema Sondhi‘s Instagram account in the week leading up to her death.

Ms Sondhi’s death has left family members back in India devastated.

She urged the Indian and Australian governments to prioritise water safety and education and advocated for the introduction of information leaflets in newcomer kits.

Almost a quarter of all overseas arrivals to Australia since 2016 have come from India, by far the fastest growing nationality, and Punjabi continues to be the fastest-growing language in Australia.

The tragedy occurred at Forrest Caves, a popular tourist destination on Phillip Island known for its sea caves.

The beach is an exposed beach on the island’s south coast which is prone to rips. It sits just west of Cape Woolamai and is not patrolled by lifesavers.

It is understood not even the locals swim at the beach because of the danger.

The Caves, formed by water erosion, can only be accessed during low tide.

“If the surf is up, the caves can quickly flood. Do not enter the caves and beware of playing in the rock pools,” one walking guide warned about the area.

“The surf along here is rough, and there are no lifeguards – so best to keep away from the water.”

While the beach did have signs warning people of swimming at the beach the signs were only in English.