Sachin, Sahil drowning: $100k raised to send NSW river victims home

An outpouring of community support has raised more than $100,000 for the families of two men who drowned while swimming in the Never Never River on the NSW Mid North Coast.

Sunita Kalkal from Melton West in Victoria is trying to raise $200,000 to repatriate the bodies of the two men, Sachin and Sahil, to India after they lost their lives in a “devastating river accident”.

She said their families were suffering “unimaginable grief” and their elderly parents would live with this pain for the rest of their lives.

“They were being responsible and cautious, stepping only into shallow water,” she said.

“In an unforeseeable moment, a strong current surged and swept them away. What should have been an innocent moment turned into an unthinkable tragedy.

“Sahil leaves behind his seven-month pregnant wife, and Sachin’s fiancee, who bravely tried to help, is now hospitalised with critical injuries.

“Fathers of both boys are suffering from critical medical conditions and unable to bear financial burden.”

Emergency crews were called to the popular swimming spot at John Locke Place in Gleniffer, about 9km north of Bellingen, about 6.45pm on Sunday after reports several people were in distress in the river.

Paramedics were told three people in their 30s had been submerged.

The two men were pulled from the water by first responders but could not be revived and were pronounced dead at the scene.

A third man was rescued and treated by emergency services.

A pregnant woman suffering emotional shock was taken by ambulance to Coffs Harbour Health Campus.