The family of a woman who died on a plane home to India will make the heartbreaking journey to Australia for her memorial service.
Aspiring chef, Manpreet Kaur, 24, suddenly died while putting on her seatbelt on a Qantas flight about to take off for India from Tullamarine Airport in Melbourne on June 20.
Ms Kaur was returning to her family in Dharampura, in the country’s northern Mansa district, who she hadn’t seen since March 2020.
Her cousin and roommate, Kuldeep Kaur, told Daily Mail Australia Ms Kaur’s health had deteriorated in recent months as she unknowingly suffered from tuberculosis.
She said the last thing Ms Kaur said to her was: ‘I will come back.’
‘She had difficulty talking and during that last week she had no energy to do anything and was just lying in bed,’ Kuldeep said.
Kuldeep explained that Ms Kaur was return to India to aid in her recovery and be with family and friends who could take care of her.
The post-mortem diagnosis meant attempts to have her body flown to India were rejected by authorities over fears of the disease spreading, Kuldeep said.
She revealed the decision had forced Ms Kaur’s family to apply for visas so they can fly to Australia and attend Ms Kaur’s funeral.
The family of 24-year-old aspiring chef Manpreet Kaur (pictured) are applying for visas to Australia to attend her funeral after attempts to repatriate her body were unsuccessful
A friend of Ms Kaur, Gurdip Grewal, said the family were ‘devastated … (and) experiencing a mix of shock, grief, and disbelief’.
‘It’s been a very tough time for everyone,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
Ms Kaur had been studying to become a chef since moving to Australia, but was working at Australia Post in the month leading up to her death.
Kuldeep ‘couldn’t believe it’ when she received a knock on the door from a police officer to tell her of her ‘honest and kind’ cousin’s death.
‘I drove her to the airport that morning and she said, “I will come back”,’ Kuldeep said.
Ms Kaur had booked a return flight to Australia on July 25 expecting to have recovered from her illness.
A GoFundMe launched by Mr Grewal to support the Kaur family has raised more than $41,000 in just over a week.
‘Our dear friend Manpreet left us too soon, leaving a void in our lives that can never be filled,’ the fundraising page reads.
‘As we grieve her passing, we want to come together to honour her memory and support her family in their time of need.’
Ms Kaur suddenly died on a plane bound for India at Tullamarine Airport to reunite with her family after unknowingly battling tuberculosis for months (stock image)
The young woman’s health had deteriorated for months leading up to her death but was expecting to recover and return to Australian on July 25 (pictured, Ms Kaur)
Ms Kaur had reportedly ‘fell in front of her seat and died on the spot’ after struggling to put on her seatbelt prior to takeoff.
A Qantas spokesperson said flight crew and emergency services attempted to provide medical assistance to Ms Kaur.
‘Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones,’ the spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.
Victoria police will prepare a report for the coroner.
The airline was made aware of the Ms Kaur’s diagnosis on Monday and contacted the National Incident Centre Operations for further information.
Victoria’s Department of Health said it had begun limited contact tracing the following day, and anyone identified as a potential risk would be notified.
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