Nijin John, a research student from University of Victoria,Vancouver Island passed died while surfing in Tofino in Canada
The accident happened in the waters off Long Beach at around 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Witnesses said the young man appeared to be with a group of people learning to surf, and was later seen on shore having CPR performed on him

Vivin Mathew (Treasurer, Kerala Cultural Association of British Columbia) and a friend of Nijin John has set up a gofundme page to collect funds to help funeral expenses. It has collected $21,540 by Tuesday evening.

https://www.gofundme.com/nijin-john-funeral-fund

â€˜Everyone from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Victoria wish to pass along heartfelt condolences to the family. Nijin was a very well respected researcher and teaching assistant - he will be greatly missed by his students and coworkers,â€™ a post by the colleagues noted.

Conditions were mild Saturday with relatively calm waters that would normally be ideal for beginner surfers.

â€˜There was a group of new surfers with their blue boards gathered down by the water, and it wasn't until they moved a little bit that I noticed somebody was giving chest compressions to someone else on the ground there,â€™ said John DeVries., according to CTV News.

A lifeguard tower was removed from the beach several years ago, which has been a contentious issue for locals.

"Maybe this will make some changes in that regard, I don't know," said DeVries.

Vivin Mathew noted on the gofundme page: Jophin Challackal (authorized local guardian of Nijin) has left to Vancouver Island to start with the proceedings. KCABC will issue cheques to Jophin for all the expenses incurred and the remaining funds will be transferred to Nijins parents by KCABC.

Kerala researcher in Canada dies in surfing accident