Family and friends of a man who drowned in the Niagara River last month say his body has been recovered.
In late June, friends of Shubham Manchanda, 25, told CBC Hamilton the "hardworking" and "funny" former student from India slipped and fell into the powerful rapids near the Niagara Whirlpool while out for a hike.
In the days immediately after, search and rescue teams attempted to find him but could not, Niagara Regional Police Service spokesperson Stephanie Sabourin said.
Police have since recovered a body and Manchanda's brother Ayush and his childhood friend Manish Arora say a small group of family members is planning to come to Canada to perform end-of-life rituals, including cremation.
"I just hope that people keep praying," Ayush told CBC Hamilton on Wednesday.
Police in Niagara have not publicly identified Manchanda but told CBC Hamilton previously a man was presumed drowned near the whirlpool on June 15.
After police said they did not locate his body, friends of Manchanda used social media to share what had happened, saying they wanted to raise awareness to make sure he would be found.
Sabourin has since told CBC Hamilton that officials recovered the body of an adult male from the lower Niagara River on the afternoon of June 20.
She said police had not identified the person and were waiting on a post-mortem.
Shubham Manchanda standing where he would later fall into the Niagara River on June 15. (Submitted by Manish Arora)Police told the family the person found had belongings matching Manchanda's, a friend told CBC Hamilton.
Originally an international student from Faridabad, Manchanda came to study at Durham College in Oshawa, Ont., three years ago. He was later hired by a company in St. Catharines, Ont., and settled in nearby Thorold.
Mitch Palmer, one of Manchanda's professors from the college, has organized an online fundraiser, initially with the goal to help send Manchanda home to India.
Ayush told CBC that for personal reasons, the family has decided to come to Canada instead. He said any money the family receives will go toward helping them do that. As of late Wednesday, nearly $9,000 was raised from 179 donations.
"It's actually very nice. We never suspected that such things would happen," Ayush said of the fundraiser.
Palmer told CBC Hamilton he hopes to meet any family who comes to Canada.
Palmer is "overwhelmed" by the support coming in from so many people, he said. "It means a lot."
Ayush said his brother "had that kind of nature" that would bring an outpouring of support.
The compassion and the outflow of love for [Shubham Manchanda] goes a long way.- Mitch Palmer"Shubham had a very special place in my heart," Palmer said, adding that although he was his teacher first, he became Manchanda's mentor and friend after working with him at a Durham renovation company.
"He said 'Mitch, I'm going to make you very proud,'" Palmer recounted.
He said Manchanda was dedicated, hardworking and family oriented, but also didn't take himself too seriously. After talking about his goals, he would joke about going out for a good time, Palmer said.
Learning about Manchanda's death was devastating, Palmer said, but seeing people come together since has been positive.
"The compassion and the outflow of love for this guy goes a long way."
