Original article
Emergency crews searching for woman swept into water at Cape Spear
*Note the article describes the man also being rescued, but in second article has conflicting information on the matter
Search for woman swept into water at Cape Spear now a recovery mission, RNC says
Follow up including comments from family
A tragedy at Cape Spear, N.L., has broken hearts 10,000 kilometres away in India
Sandeep Kaur was from Bathinda, India and recently received permanent residency status in Canada. She lived there without any family, and her travel to Canada to get an education was funded through the sale of her families' ancestral lands.
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.
On January 15, she visited Cape Spear lighthouse, a coastal location in the Atlantic Ocean known for its harsh landscape and slippery rocks. It was here that she apparently slipped into the water. The man she made the trip with is said to have jumped in to help her.
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.
While the man was able to climb out of the water and call authorities for help, she could not get out of the water.
St. John's Regional Fire Department Platoon Chief Dean Foley told CBC News Wednesday evening they received initial reports around 4 p.m. of a car in the water, but later learned a man and a woman were swept into the water. An update from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary on Thursday afternoon said the man was able to climb to shore before rescue crews arrived, and is being treated in hospital for minor injuries.
Accidents like this are unfortunately common, as noted by this quote from a local.
"You see a helicopter fly by and your heart skips a beat, because you know that there's a strong probability someone has gone into the water. And experience has told me if you go into that water, it's highly unlikely anyone can get you out,"
The situation is quite confusing, and her family is now looking for answers, contacting Punjabi influencers to get the word out. Her family notes she deleted her social media three months ago, after relocating to St. John's from Ontario with a man, also from Brampton. The male companion is not responding to the family or media requests.
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.
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.
