Jonas Safari
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In a tragic incident at Pines Island in Canberra, 21-year-old Jonas Safari, a Kenyan-Congolese man, drowned while swimming with friends in the Murrumbidgee River.
This unfortunate event has deeply affected both his family and the local community, who are now in mourning. Eyewitnesses reported that Jonas dived into the river, which is a popular swimming destination, and quickly encountered distress, failing to resurface.
Panic ensued among his friends and bystanders, with one individual jumping into the water in a desperate bid to rescue him and calling for a knife to assist in case he needed to be freed. Despite the initial calm conditions, Jonas remained submerged for around five minutes before emergency services arrived to issue an evacuation order to swimmers.
Tragically, police divers located his body two hours later. Jonas Safari had lived in Canberra since 2020 and was recognized for his vibrant personality and kindness, leaving a lasting impression on those who knew him. His sudden passing has left an immense void, particularly for his mother, Juliet Asifiwe, and his four younger siblings, who are coming to terms with this unexpected loss.
In response to this tragedy, a fundraising campaign has been initiated to provide support for his family during this difficult period. This incident echoes another recent tragedy involving two Kenyan students, Humphrey Ruto and Penuel Meli, who lost their lives in a car crash in Perth, Australia, earlier in 2024.
The students, hailing from Nandi County, were involved in a vehicle accident on a highway when their car veered off course and collided with a pole, resulting in a catastrophic fire. Emergency responders were dispatched to the scene, but their efforts were unable to save the young men.