A newly arrived migrant woman in New Zealand has been left without family support or income after her husband was killed in a tragic gardening accident in Cambridge, Waikato.
Paradeep Singh, known as Deep, died while carrying out yard work at the couple’s property on his day off. Police said they were called to assist ambulance crews at the Racecourse Road address around 3.15pm on 20 May, and the matter has been referred to the Coroner.
As per 1News, Witnesses said Singh was working on trimming tree branches with others when the fatal incident occurred. A friend said he may have been struck when a branch bounced back or possibly hit by equipment being used at the time. He was reported to have sustained a serious head injury and died within minutes despite attempts by those nearby to help.
“Paradeep yelled and everyone ran towards him immediately and called emergency services,” a family spokesperson said. St John confirmed it deployed a rapid response unit and an operations manager, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Singh had moved to New Zealand in 2023 and was working as an operations manager in a horticulture business. He was described as the sole income earner for his household, also financially supporting his elderly parents in India, including his paralysed mother.
His wife, Kamal, had only recently arrived in New Zealand, moving to join him after their marriage about six months ago.
Family and friends say she has no relatives in the country, no income, and has not yet established financial independence. “She came here for him,” a family friend said.
“She has no money, no support system, and she is completely alone right now.”
The couple had been planning to apply for residency and return to India in the future for a larger wedding celebration with extended family.
Friends have launched a fundraising appeal to help repatriate Singh’s body to India for funeral rites and to support Kamal as she navigates the aftermath of the tragedy.
“She has not eaten properly and is struggling to cope,” a friend said, adding that the wider community had stepped in to provide immediate support.
Police say investigations are ongoing and a coroner’s report will determine the exact cause of death.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
