15-yr-old Delhi football player, drowns at Australian beach

NEWDELHI: A 15-year-old football player from Delhi drowned at Glenelg beach in Adelaide on Sunday. The victim was identified as Nitisha Negi.

She was among five who were swept away in the sea.

The life-savers managed to rescue three of the five girls at first before rescuing the fourth near Holdfast Marina around 5:50pm.

Negi’s body was recovered by the police near Glenelg around 7:30am on Monday.

The girls were part of under-18 team representing India in the Pacific School Games and were swimming near breakwater rocks when they were swept away, according to Adelaide Now.

Despite launching an emergency search for Negi on Sunday, operations had to be called off later in the day owing to poor light.

School Sports Australia put out a statement following the tragedy.

“Following the completion of the Games on Saturday there was a tragic accident at Glenelg beach yesterday which has taken the life of one of the members of the visiting Indian delegation,” it stated.

“All involved in the Games send our condolences to the Indian team, family and friends of the deceased student. The thoughts of all in the Pacific School Games family are also with the four members of the team who are still in hospital. School Sport Australia is offering full support and assistance to the Indian Delegation,” it added.

Last year, two 11-year-old boys had drowned at the same place.

Back in 2007, a 17-year-old had drowned near breakwater owing to the strong currents.

According to reports, all the four girls who were rescued on Sunday had to be taken to various hospitals.

It was learnt that Negi’s father has urged the authorities concerned to bring back the body to India as soon as possible while demanding an inquiry into the tragedy.