Lake victim was Waiariki student

FILE PHOTO

A man who was pulled unconscious from Lake Taupo has died.

He has been named by police as Sidhant Sharma, he was an Indian national studying at Waiariki Institute of Technology in Rotorua.

The 21-year-old man was on a privately owned boat with three other people who were family and friends on Tuesday. At about 2.30pm during a swim in the lake he failed to resurface.

Police said he was pulled from the water and the boat made a mayday call while a tourist swam to the boat and did CPR. The boat motored to shore to meet the ambulance.

On Tuesday night the man was transferred to Waikato Hospital where he died yesterday morning.

Waiariki Institute of Technology's international director Graeme Rennie said the news had been a huge shock. "This is a tragedy for us and we have had a quick discussion with his aunty and will be doing everything we can support the family," he said.

Waiariki chief executive Professor Margaret Noble said Mr Sharma was studying the Diploma in Computing, Communications and Technology.

"Sidhant's father was visiting from India and both were enjoying a day on Lake Taupo when the accident occurred. Waiariki extends its most sincere condolences," Professor Noble said.

The matter has been referred to the Coroner.