The heartbroken family of a missing man whose body was found on a popular Gold Coast beach on Monday morning have spoken of their shock and grief.
Alvin Prasad, 25, went missing in the early hours of Sunday, December 20, after going for a swim at 2.30am with two friends after a Christmas party.
His lifeless body was pulled from the water at Mermaid Beach by lifeguards at 9:15am on Monday, more than a day after he went missing in rough surf.
The body of hospital worker Alvin Prasad (pictured), 25, was found at Mermaid Beach, Surfers Paradise on Monday morning. His grief-stricken family have told of their shock on Facebook
Shattered family and friends took to social media in shock and grief as they found out what had happened to the popular young Queenslander who had just won a new job at an Amazon warehouse.
‘Rest In Peace my brother,’ wrote cousin Raimond Prasad.
‘Please tell me this is a dream, I love you so much wish it didn’t have to be this way.’
Mr Prasad wrote of how Alvin would be missed by so many people who knew him.
‘I am just speechless, I don’t know what to do, we will always be thinking of you, our hearts are shattered, miss you brother.’
Mr Prasad went for a night swim with his coworkers at 2.30am on Sunday but never returned to shore. Pictured: emergency services at Surfers Paradise on Sunday
Raimond Prasad said he had been close to his cousin Alvin, who had always been just a phone call away from family.
Recently the family also lost an aunt and a grandmother and they were trying to heal when Alvin so unexpectedly lost his life.
‘As soon as we try to heal from a tragedy another one happens,’ Raimond told Daily Mail Australia on Monday.
‘We are all just gutted and missing our cousin so much.
‘I just have no words. I feel empty, sick and just wish we could have him back. So young, had a bright future – just feels like a dream.’
‘He won’t be forgotten, we’re trying to be strong but just can’t hold it in forever. Wish we were there that’s all I can say.’
Scores of friends immediately took to Facebook to offer their condolences for the loss of a much-loved, vibrant young man.
‘He has been taken way too soon,’ wrote one.
‘Such an awesome guy and touched so many people’s lives. This is devastating news. I really can’t believe it. Thinking of you all.’
Another wrote of how tragic it was for Alvin to be taken when he was only 25 and had his whole life ahead of him.
‘I knew of Alvin through work colleagues and family and friends,’ the man wrote.
‘And (I) was excited for Alvin following the recent celebration of his new career with Amazon. Alvin had a great sense of humour, and was equally highly regarded by so many for his pleasant humanistic, and charismatic nature.’
Another remembered how good he was to know as a friend.
‘Alvin was the most lovely, genuine & kind hearted person,’ she wrote.
Police notified Mr Prasad’s shocked and grief-stricken family who then had to identify his body
Mr Prasad’s relations were called and have formally identified his body.
The 25-year-old man had gone for a night swim with two of his workmates after their Christmas office party, entering the waters at the Esplanade in Surfer’s Paradise, Queensland, at 2.30am on Sunday.
The surf conditions were rough, forcing two of the people, a man and a woman, to return to shore.
The woman was uninjured while the man was treated by paramedics on the beach for breathing difficulties.
It was only then, after returning to shore, that they realised their friend never made it back with them.
The pair called emergency services and water police, Volunteer Marine Rescue and Rescue 500 were deployed to search for the man.
The recent storms affected the visibility of the water, making the search for Mr Prasad’s body harder.
Heavy rains made the search for Mr Prasad harder, reducing the visibility of the water. Pictured: air ambulances circling on Sunday morning
On Sunday, Gold Coast Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler said Queensland Police held ‘grave’ concerns for the safety and well-being of Mr Prasad.
‘The water was rough, the northerly sweeping through, and the conditions really weren’t set up for swimming, particularly at night. So we do hold concerns for that man,’ he said.
‘We sympathise with his family and friends. It’s a really difficult period not knowing what’s happened.’
Although Superintendent Wheeler initially said four people had entered the rough waters, Queensland Police Media has confirmed that it was only three.
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Alvin Prasad has been remembered and described by his friend Diana Kola, as ‘one of the most amazing guys ever’.
‘He really didn’t deserve this,’ she said.
‘One of the most amazing guys ever’: Alvin Prasad (right) is remembered by friends and family
