A heartbroken Indian-origin family is demanding answers after the sudden and unexplained death of 24-year-old Shivang Pathania, who was found lifeless in a Perth motel swimming pool.
According to reports, Pathania, a Melbourne resident on a two-week work trip, had been captured on CCTV working out in the gym just hours before his body was discovered in the Bentley Motel pool on January 18. Investigators remain baffled as to how a fit and healthy young man drowned in a two-metre-deep pool with no one else around.
By the time motel staff found him over an hour later, it was too late to revive him.
Pathania’s grieving family only learned of his death nine hours later through Victoria Police, after their desperate calls to the motel were met with refusals to disclose information.
Pathania’s brother, Karan Kukreja, told PerthNow:
“They told us, ‘for privacy reasons, we can’t share hotel guest details,’ but I said, ‘this guy is missing, we need to know where he is.’”
Adding to the family’s frustration, motel staff reportedly claimed Pathania “didn’t look like a confident swimmer,” but his loved ones insist he was strong in the water, frequently swimming at the beach and pools.
Pathania’s partner, Erini Misirlakis, says toxicology reports show he had a blood alcohol reading of just 0.01 per cent and only had Ibuprofen in his system for a headache.
She is now calling for transparency, saying their requests to review motel CCTV footage have been denied.
“I understand privacy, but when someone’s life is at stake and all we’re asking for is clarification, there must be a better way.”
The cause of Pathania’s death may take up to a year to be determined, leaving his grieving family and partner desperate for closure.
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