Family, friends and classmates of the missing man were given a moment to say goodbye as the body recovered from the pool was taken from the scene.
The Indian student who died at Omanawa Falls in the Bay of Plenty has been named as Kishore Kumar, with reports saying he was with a group taking photos at the scenic spot before tragedy struck.
Police are working to formally identify the body found by police divers in the pool at the base of Omanawa Falls yesterday.
An international Waikato University student was reported missing while visiting the falls with two friends on Sunday.
"It is for the Coroner to establish the exact circumstances that led to this death," she said.
Family, friends and classmates of the missing man were given a moment to say goodbye as the body recovered from the pool was taken from the scene. PHOTO/JOHN BORREN
Another Indian media outlet, Indian News Link, reported Kishore's father Aravindan Viswanathan in Chennai saying he has lost his "most precious possession".
"Kishore was everything to us. He was a bright boy and we had hoped that he would return home after completing his postgraduate [Masters[ study at the University of Waikato and that we would all be together again.
"It has been a shock. My wife has not been able to recover since she heard the tragic news," he said.
The family wished to have the funeral in Chennai.
After a long, cold day of waiting, emotions spilled over as the recovered body was brought up in a hearse. PHOTO/JOHN BORREN
Meanwhile, friends on Facebook have paid tribute to Kumar.
Saurav Aryan said: "Bro you will always be missed and shall remain in our hearts. Days spent together were golden."
