A tragedy at Cape Spear, N.L., has broken hearts 10,000 kilometres away in India
Sandeep Kaur, 22, was swept into the ocean, and her family is desperate for answers
The death of a woman who was swept into the ocean at Cape Spear, N.L., earlier this month is sending shock waves to the other side of the globe, as a distressed family in the Indian state of Punjab tries to understand what happened to 22-year-old Sandeep Kaur.
"I am very sad," Gurmail Singh, Sandeep's father, wrote to CBC News on the messaging application WhatsApp.
Sandeep, who was also known as Sandy, came to Canada in 2022 as an international student, funded by the sale of her family's ancestral land.
She earned a diploma in tourism from a college in Brampton, Ont. and relocated to Newfoundland and Labrador in September after being granted permanent residency.
CBC News has been in contact with Sandeep's father, brother Kuldeep Singh and her uncle, Jagdish Singh. There's a language barrier, but the family is distraught over Sandeep's disappearance, and are desperate for answers.
They've taken their case to officials in the Punjab government, and have also pleaded with Canadian authorities to continue the search for Sandeep.
"Please help us," Gurmail Singh wrote on WhatsApp.
But the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary says search efforts were exhausted, and that its investigation has determined there was nothing suspicious about Sandeep's disappearance.
Family members say Sandeep deleted her social media accounts three months ago, not long after arriving in St. John's, which surprised the family because it was through social media that they followed her life in Canada.
Prior to her disappearance, she worked at an international shipping and receiving company in the St. John's area, but was struggling to support herself financially, they said.
One of her co-workers, Kat Galazzo, knew Sandeep for a few months, but said it was difficult to get to know her because of the language barriers.
"She was a sweet girl, really nice, a hard worker. It's tragic what happened," said Galazzo, adding that Sandeep's disappearance has jolted everyone in their workplace.
Caught by a wave
Sandeep and a male companion visited the Cape Spear National Historic Site near St. John's on the afternoon of Jan. 15.
Despite numerous signs in the area that warned of the dangers, they walked to the shoreline, where the ocean was slamming against the rocks and the temperature was below freezing.
It's believed Sandeep was caught by a wave and swept into the ocean. Her companion attempted an unsuccessful rescue, and managed to get back to the shoreline. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
Searchers from various agencies, including Rovers Ground Search and Rescue, scoured the ocean and shoreline, but were unable to locate Sandeep.
Empathetic and cheerful
CBC News has learned the identity of Sandeep's male companion, but attempts to reach him have been unsuccessful. Sandeep's family say the male, who also relocated to St. John's from Brampton, has not responded to their messages.
Punjab is a state bordering Pakistan, in the heart of India's Sikh community, and Sandeep is from the district of Bathinda in northwestern India. Sandeep's family is struggling financially. The plan was for Sandeep to find work in Canada and support her family with her earnings.
WATCH | The CBC's Terry Roberts reports on how Sandeep Kaur's Canadian dream ended in tragedy:
The family described her as "empathetic and cheerful," and that she loved to dress up, explore the outdoors and try different foods.
"She often told her father that one day she would move to Canada and fulfil their dreams," her brother and uncle wrote on WhatsApp.
Meanwhile, Galazzo said Sandeep's limited understanding of the English language may have contributed to the tragedy, since she may not have understood the many warning signs at Cape Spear.
"They were new here. They didn't know any better," said Galazzo.
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