(Image source from: NJ.com)

The 32-year-old software engineer Avinash Kuna, a native of Visakhapatnam who was residing in New Jersey, drowned in a lake on Saturday while celebrating his birthday. He had gone to the States five years ago to pursue his MS.

Avinash had turned 32 on May 28. According to local reports, Avinash hired a rental boat and took eight of his friends, most of whom were from his workplace to Lake Hopatcong on a boat ride to celebrate his birthday. He reportedly loves boat riding and has a license too.

Avinash reportedly dove into the water which was 5-8 feet deep, but couldn't come up as his leg got tangled in the weed. The efforts of his friends to rescue him remained futile. The weeds were 3 feet high, according to reports.

One of his friends, Jay Mayeti, who tried to rescue Avinash, told NorthJersey.Com that he put on a life jacket and dove in to help save his friend. “...but my life jacket came off, and then I was about to drown when my friends pulled me out. In the five seconds that took, we lost him.” His friends had then called Bridge Marina and 911 for help.

Avinash’s body was retrieved on Sunday. Avinash’s father K Venkata Rao works at the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.

Avinash had graduated with a Masters degree from New Mexico State University in 2016. He also has a Masters degree in Computer Science from Andhra University.

Learning about the death of her son, Avinash’s mother had to be hospitalized. To raise funds for Avinash’s family, his friends have started a GoFundMe account.

Avinash’s body will be flown to Visakhapatnam on Thursday.

By Sowmya Sangam