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A memorial for Ashleigh Kumar, 18, who drowned in a water hole near the Waimakariri River - Source: Fairfax
The family of a young Christchurch woman who drowned in a pond next to the Waimakariri River last week are determined to bring about changes to the "death trap" that claimed her life.
Ashleigh Kumar, 18, was swimming with friends on Wednesday at a popular spot at the end of Intake Road, opposite Eyrewell Forest, when she was dragged facedown beneath a narrow gateway leading from the storage pond to the river.
The Department of Labour has started an investigation but will not comment while it takes place.
Kumar's family and friends are determined her death will see improved safety at all New Zealand waterways, starting with the design of underwater gateways leading from storage ponds.
Two of Kumar's friends, Rachel Pickworth and Georgia Fergusson, both 18, were with her that day and saw other people, including families with children, swimming in the pond.
They would not have contemplated getting into the water if others had not been swimming, they said.
Pickworth was the last person to see Kumar as she stood in seemingly calm water that reached just below her shoulders.
Kumar had called to Pickworth, who was standing about two metres away in water up to her knees, to join her in the deeper water. Then she disappeared facedown.
Police said Kumar had been dragged by the immense pressure of the water, legs first, beneath a partly open gateway.
Despite the frantic efforts of her friends and two men swimming nearby, they could not pull the teenager from beneath the gate.
The gateway was open at the bottom by about 20 centimetres, creating a strong current pulling water through the gap and into the river beyond.
The gap was wide enough for Kumar's legs to become trapped, but not wide enough for her to slip through.
A relative, who did not want to be named, said the gap had acted like a plughole, dragging water through at an inescapable speed.
Kumar's father, Francis Kumar, went to the site on Thursday with an Occupational Health and Safety employee and was shocked to see people swimming in the storage pond. Neither could see any warning signs, which had been reported to be near the pond.
"I was out there on Thursday. We could not find any signs," Kumar said.
"It looks like a beautiful swimming lake. There is a sign at the end of Intake Road saying 'recreational area', with logos of boating and fishing.
"There is nothing that says no swimming, no cross through a swimming sign as you would expect. It is a death trap."
Pickworth said no signs were up when Kumar and her friends swam on Wednesday.
Selwyn District Council chief executive Paul Davey said the gate that claimed Kumar's life would, from now on, be opened only under the supervision of a contractor.
"That gate is not to be opened unless it is supervised by a contractor. That will remove much of the risk that was present," he said.
Staff were also looking at making the gateway safer to prevent others being trapped.
Temporary signs would be erected today warning people about the dangers of swimming in the area.
While permanent signs would follow, Davey implored people not to deface or remove the signs. "As soon as we erect a warning sign, it is defaced or removed," he said.
Change of plans ends in tragedy
Ashleigh Kumar was set to move to Australia two weeks ago with her parents and beloved dog Harlow.
But the 18-year-old changed her plans so she could stay in New Zealand until the end of the month to say goodbye to her friends and family.
Her devotion and loyalty cost her her life.
Last Wednesday, while swimming with friends, Kumar drowned beneath a partially open gateway of a storage pond off the Waimakariri River.
Yesterday, friends and family gathered at her Brooklands home, recalling the woman who lit up any room she entered.
An animal lover, her pomeranian Harlow went everywhere with her, even to the river that day.
Rachel Pickworth and Georgia Fergusson, both 18, said Harlow was quite a celebrity, having his photo taken with John Key and attending C3 church youth group events with Kumar each week.
"She even had a birthday party for him," her mother, Kate Kumar, said.
Pickworth and Fergusson joked they had always been envious of Kumar's beauty, confidence and ability to talk to anybody.
"She was the most beautiful girl you would ever see," Pickworth said.
"She was really loving, always taking care of you."
"She was witty, so funny, always joking and laughing," Fergusson added.
Kumar had loved changing her hair colour, to the extent her father, Francis, would sometimes not recognise her, he said.
"She was always singing," he said.
"And if she wasn't singing she was humming."
Kumar also had a natural talent for the arts and had gained a place to study design and communication at the University of the Sunshine Coast, after studying arts, including photography, at Hagley Community College.
Francis Kumar said she had talked about running her own business, specialising in design.
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