A husband who died trying to save his wife from a Christchurch lake during a driving lesson that turned to tragedy yesterday has been hailed as a hero by his distraught family.
The bodies of 26-year-old Avneel Ram and his 31‑year‑old wife Sheetal were recovered by police divers from the bottom of a lake in the Halswell area of Westlake Reserve yesterday.
The couple originally from Suva, got married last year.
NZ Herald reports that Sheetal’s brother‑in‑law Hinesh Kumar and other family members identified the bodies at the scene.
They formed a guard of honour, crying and hugging, as the bodies were taken from the lakeside into the back of a waiting hearse.
The couple’s 5‑month‑old daughter was at the scene and is being cared for by grandparents.
Avneel was teaching his wife to drive, when the Toyota she was driving accelerated into the lake at around 5.40pm Tuesday.
He dived in to try and reach his wife.
Avneel dived in and resurfaced several times.
After “three or four” dives, he did not reappear.
