Drowning victim's widow begs to stay in NZ: 'All my dreams of a better life … will be shattered'

Wednesday, 14 February 2018

Hemin Limbachiya and Tanvi Bahvsar at their ceremonial wedding in India in December. Bhavsar's immigration status in New Zealand is uncertain after the death of her husband, as her work visa relied on him.

Tanvi Bhavsar lost her husband on a Hawke's Bay beach a month ago, and now faces the prospect of losing her life in New Zealand.

A few short weeks after their ceremonial wedding in India, Bhavsar and husband Hemin Limbachiya went swimming with a male relative at Waimarama Beach on January 14.

Waimarama Beach claimed the life of 26-year-old Limbachiya on January 14. (File photo)

But when the trio got into trouble in a channel about 50 metres from the shoreline, Limbachiya used his last breath to beg rescuer Cameron McCallum, 16, to save his new bride.

It would be the last time Bhavsar would see her husband alive. Lifeguards spent 20 fruitless minutes trying to resuscitate him.

Teenager Cameron McCallum was able to save Bhavsar from drowning, but not her husband. She described McCallum on Wednesday as 'a real life hero'.

* 'I was going to let go and fall to the bottom of the ocean'

* One dead after rescue at popular Hawke's Bay beach

* Wife of drowned man discharged from hospital**

Having taken Limbachiya's body back to India for his last rites, Bhavsar is desperate to return to New Zealand to continue the life the couple – who had a civil wedding in Wellington in 2016 – began together about two years ago.

But because her 12-month work visa was reliant on her husband, her future is uncertain.

The couple were more than half-way through the residency application process when Limbachiya, 26, died.

Bhavsar, 27, has written to Immigration New Zealand (INZ), begging for compassion. 'All my dreams of a better life and my real opportunity to be able to move on with life in light of this tragic accident will be shattered,' she wrote.

'My biggest fear is due [to] this unfortunate and unforseen accident, I will be barred [from entering] New Zealand.'

She is unlikely to satisfy the work visa requirements with her Napier retail job.

Eventually, she hopes to use her Media Design School qualification to find work as an animator and painter.

She said she hoped authorities would consider her circumstances on compassionate grounds.

'I want to live the dreams that me and Hemin had,' she said from India on Wednesday evening. 'We love New Zealand in every way … a better and safer way of life and respect for life and skills.

'My fear is about my future, because I had expected my future would be in New Zealand, to become an artist, to do exhibitions of paintings.'

In a statement on Wednesday, INZ offered its condolences to Bhavsar.

'Following her partner's death, INZ is endeavouring to contact Ms Bhavsar about her visa options.'

A spokesman said it was 'very difficult' to give more specific information on her options until an INZ officer had spoken with her.

However, he confirmed INZ had the capacity to apply discretion in cases such as hers.

For now, all Bhavsar can do is wait.

'New Zealand has given us, in these two years, a lot of good memories and a bundle of happiness,' she said. 'I will always remember it in a good way, not in a tragic situation.'