A missing couple are feared dead after a woman accidentally accelerated into a New Zealand lake while her husband was teaching her how to drive.
Avnell Ram, 25, and his wife Sheetal Ram, 30, are believed to have drowned after disappearing in a lake in Haswell’s Westlake Reserve, south-west of Christchurch, on Tuesday, according to Stuff.co.nz.
Their bodies are expected to be retrieved by police on Wednesday morning.
Avnell Ram, 25, and his wife Sheetal Ram, 30, (pictured) are believed to have drowned after disappearing in a lake in Haswell’s Westlake Reserve, south-west of Christchurch, on Tuesday
It is believed Mrs Ram was learning how to drive in the carpark (pictured) when she accidentally hit the accelerator and drove the car into the lake
Witnesses said they saw the couple, who have a five-month-old daughter, in the carpark around 5.45pm.
Jordan Fleming, who was walking his dog in the area, told the publication he spotted a woman sitting in the driver’s seat of a red hatchback and a man standing outside the car door.
‘It looked like the man was trying to open the door or communicate to the lady and I heard the accelerator go and that’s when the car went off the bank, down the hill into the lake,’ he said.
‘Then the man went into the water and swam after the car and then the car sunk.’
‘He swam down and came back up a couple of times; then it would’ve been about the fourth time he went down and didn’t come up. So there’s currently two people in this lake.’
Witnesses said they saw the couple, who have a five-month-old daughter, in the carpark around 5.45pm
Mr and Mrs Ram (pictured) moved from Fiji to New Zealand a couple of years ago after marrying in February 2016, family members said
A friend of the couple revealed Mrs Ram recently got her learner driver license and claimed she accidentally pressed her foot on the accelerator instead of the break, causing the car to launch into the water.
Police said numerous witnesses jumped into the water to help but couldn’t reach the car.
Mr and Mrs Ram moved from Fiji to New Zealand a couple of years ago after marrying in February 2016, family members told Stuff.
Their infant daughter is being cared for by her grandmother.
Their bodies are expected to be retrieved by police on Wednesday morning (pictured together)