The family of a woman who died suddenly on a plane en route to her home in India will make the heartbreaking journey to Australia for her memorial service.
Aspiring chef Manpreet Kaur, 24, was buckling up on a Qantas flight about to take off for India from Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport on June 20 when she suffered a fatal medical episode.
Ms Kaur was returning to Dharampura in Mansa district in the north of the country with her family, whom she had not seen since March 2020.
Her cousin and roommate, Kuldeep Kaur, told the Daily Mail Australia that Ms Kaur’s health had deteriorated in recent months because she was unknowingly suffering from tuberculosis.
He said the last thing Ms Kaur said to him was: “I’ll be back.”
“I was having difficulty speaking and for the last week I had no energy to do anything and was just lying in bed,” Kuldeep said.
Kuldeep explained that Ms Kaur was returning to India to help with her recovery and to be with family and friends who could care for her.
The autopsy result meant that attempts to bring his body back to India were rejected by authorities for fear the disease could spread, Kuldeep said.
She revealed that the decision had forced Ms Kaur’s family to apply for visas so they could fly to Australia to attend Ms Kaur’s funeral.
The family of aspiring chef Manpreet Kaur, 24, (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 was “devastated… (and) experiencing a mixture of shock, grief and disbelief”.
“It’s been a very difficult time for everyone,” she told Daily Mail Australia.
Ms Kaur had been studying to become a chef since moving to Australia, but had been working at Australia Post in the month before her death.
Kuldeep “couldn’t believe it” when a police officer knocked on his door to tell him about the death of his “honest and kind” cousin.
“I took her to the airport that morning and she said, ‘I’ll be back,'” Kuldeep said.
Ms Kaur had booked a flight back to Australia on July 25 hoping to have recovered from her illness.
TO GoFundMe The project 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 mourn his passing, we want to join together to honor his memory and support his family in this time of need.”
Ms Kaur died suddenly on a plane bound for India at Tullamarine Airport to join her family after unknowingly battling tuberculosis for months (file image)
The young woman’s health had deteriorated in the months leading up to her death, but she was expected to recover and return to Australia on July 25 (pictured, Ms Kaur)
Ms Kaur reportedly “fell in front of her seat and died instantly” after struggling to put on her seatbelt before takeoff.
A Qantas spokesman said the flight crew and emergency services attempted to provide medical assistance to Ms Kaur.
“Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones,” the spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.
Victoria Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
The airline learned of Ms Kaur’s tuberculosis diagnosis on Monday and contacted the National Incident Operations Centre 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.
