Family picnic turns tragic for New Jersey Indian family as 41-year-old father drowns in lake while paddleboarding.

41-year-old Kaushik Sharma, a father of two, drowned in Lake Hopatcong in New Jersey, where he was paddleboarding during a family picnic. The incident took place on August 16 at around 2.30 pm when bystanders noticed an unattended paddleboard and a beach lifeguard. Sharma’s body was found after hours of searching at 7pm. Authorities said he was paddleboarding in an area not supervised by lifeguards, as reported by Daily Voice.A day before, a 23-year-old paddleboarder died at nearby Tilcon Lake on August 15.An examination by the Morris County Medical Examiner’s Office will be conducted and the death remains under investigation, authorities said. Foul play is not suspected, authorities said.Sharma’s friends set up a fundraiser to help the family get on its feet. “It is with profound sadness that friends and family share the tragic and unexpected loss of Kaushik Sharma, an Edison, NJ resident and dear friend. Kaushik passed away while enjoying a family picnic, a heartbreaking incident that has deeply shaken everyone who knew him. Known in the Edison, NJ / BAPS / Edison School PTO Board / Gujrati community as a kind, generous, and compassionate person, Kaushik was someone people could always count on,” the fundraiser said.The fundraiser noted that Kaushik’s wife is in the US on a dependent visa and hence she faces uncertainty and stress. “The funds raised will help ease some of the financial burden by covering funeral expenses and helping with living costs in the days ahead. The Edison, NJ / BAPS / Edison School PTO Board / Gujarati community is already coming together to support Kaushik’s family, and this fundraiser is one way to stand beside them with care and compassion,” the fundraiser said.

23-year-old man also identified

The 23-year-old who drowned a day before Sharma has been identified as Jonathan Gresseau. Gresseau was reported missing at approximately 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, after falling into Tilcon Lake, located off Kinney Road in Mount Olive Township. According to the prosecutor’s office, a group of adults had been paddleboarding on the lake when Gresseau fell into the water. Others in the group were unable to rescue him and called for help, WRNJ Radio reported. The prosecutor’s office said paddleboarding is not permitted on Tilcon Lake.