A young student from has drowned in a tragic accident at a popular swimming spot in Australia.
Reemeh Beh, 20, was with her boyfriend and best friend at Lerderderg Gorge, 60km northwest of Melbourne, on December 6 when she slipped on rocks and fell into the water.
Her boyfriend jumped in after her but couldn’t dislodge her foot, which had become trapped on debris about three metres below the surface.
Emergency services were called soon after and transported him to the hospital for minor treatment, but there was no sign of Ms Beh, who never resurfaced.
It took about four hours for Victoria Police Search and Rescue Divers to discover the young woman’s body and confirm the tragic outcome of her fall.
Ms Beh was on the brink of launching into her adult life, having just graduated from Geelong’s Northern Bay College and landing a full-time job in aged care.
Her boyfriend of three years had also recently purchased a home as they planned on getting married and taking the Australian citizenship test.
But her family’s life has been turned upside-down by her tragic death, and they have little to spend on a funeral for Ms Beh, Northern Bay College inclusion worker Sophie Nawnyo told Daily Mail Australia.
Family and friends of Reemeh Beh (pictured) have been left reeling after she drowned at a popular swimming spot while celebrating graduating from school and getting a job
Ms Nawnyo first met Ms Beh through the tight-knit Karen and Karenni communities in Geelong before supporting her at school as her wellbeing liaison.
Just a day before she died, Ms Beh had been beaming with joy, telling her about her new job and her plans for the future with her partner.
‘They were planning to get married, they bought a house together and she just got a job, her mum was excited she graduated too.
‘Everything was just going right, you know? And everything just collapsed.’
Ms Nawnyo added the family were devastated by the untimely death, especially her mother who relied on her to get by.
‘She was very kind, her mum’s English is not perfect and she relied on Reemeh to translate when she’s had an appointment at a medical centre or Centrelink’, she said.
Ms Beh was planning on getting married to her boyfriend of almost three years who she was going to sit the Australian citizenship exam with earlier this week
The 20-year-old is the second person to drown in the water next to MacKenzies Flat Picnic Area in Lerderderg Gorge in just over a year
‘Her family was not prepared for this loss and the costs of the funeral service,’ Ms Nawnyo wrote to the GoFundMe page.
‘We want to give Reemeh the memorial she deserves and say our last goodbye without worrying about how it will be paid for.’
Her funeral is planned for Saturday.
Ms Beh is the second person to drown at the popular swimming spot in just over a year, prompting an urgent warning from local authorities.
‘Whilst the water looks shallow and calm from the river banks, it is over three metres deep in places,’ the Bacchus Marsh SES unit said in a statement on social media.
‘There is signage warning of the dangers to swimmers and we’d recommend if you cannot swim, do not enter the water.’
They confirmed that Parks Victoria had visited the site alongside police and been in discussions to make the area safer.
‘Ultimately, this is a natural bush environment whereby rainfall and currents change the water depths, directions and debris regularly,’ the statement reads.
‘There is no constant “deep end”, therefore a heightened sense of caution should be taken.’
