By Ashleigh Fielding and Grace Jones | posted on May 24, 2018
THE family of 20-year-old Indian student Ankit Jatain, who slipped and fell to his death at The Gap near Albany last Thursday, now faces a hefty bill to transport the young man’s body home to northern India.
Mr Jatain was visiting Albany with a group of friends when he plummeted more than 40m down rocks and was washed out to sea at about 3pm.
His body was recovered from relatively calm waters about 500m from the western side of The Gap by Albany Sea Rescue more than an hour later.
The recovery brought to an end the operation that included police, State Emergency Service volunteers and a drone operator.
Mr Jatain’s uncle, Davender Singh, told The Weekender the family is trying to raise enough money to cover the cost of transporting Mr Jatain’s body home and to provide his family with financial support.
A Facebook page was created to raise funds and raised nearly $35,000 in five days.
“He was very young, only 20 years old,” Mr Singh said.
“He loved to take photos.
“We’d like to thank everyone for donating money.”
Surya Ambati, the President of the Indian Society of WA, created the Facebook fundraiser after being contacted by Mr Jatain’s uncle and family.
“It will cost about $10,000 to transport Ankit’s body back to India,” he said.
“The rest of the amount will be given to the parents of Ankit, who took out a bank loan to send Ankit to Australia.”
Mr Ambati also thanked the nearly 1000 people who pledged a donation.
The fundraising effort stopped yesterday after reaching a third of its initial target of $90,000.
Great Southern Police District Superintendent Dom Wood was at the scene shortly after events unfolded last Thursday, and later said Mr Jatain and his friends were seen on the eastern side of the Gap taking photos.
“There were a small group of friends directly opposite the viewing platform with no protection whatsoever,” he said.
“The young man that lost his life had only come down for the last few days or so.”
Mr Wood said there was signage at the Gap to direct people to stick to the paths and viewing platforms.
“I had a look while I was up there [on Thursday],” he said.
“It clearly tells people to stay to the path and to stay to the area prepared for visitors.
“There are some signs with clearly illustrated symbols showing the risks of wind and treacherousness of the rocks.
“Sadly and tragically he made the decision to endanger his life.”
Reflecting on the circumstances that led to Mr Jatain’s loss of life, Mr Wood said some people put the “selfie culture” before their own safety.
“We all know that as a culture people want to take as many snaps as they can,” he said.
“Potentially people will put that activity ahead of their own safety.
“The message I’ll say to that and what I often say to my own kids is to stop, pause and think about what you’re doing.
“Put your safety first.”
Mr Wood said the viewing platform that had opened in 2016 following a $6.1 million upgrade was constructed purely for the safety of visitors.
“The viewing platform that has recently been put in was made to safely enclose people while they take their photographs protected,” he said.
“That platform is there to allow people to fully take in the scenery, take photos and be safe to do so.
“As soon as you focus on the activity of taking the photo and put yourself on the rocks, something will go wrong, and tragically it did.”
