Fundraiser for drowned TRU international student reaches $14K

A GoFundMe for the funeral of a drowned Thompson Rivers University international student has raised thousands of dollars since starting on Friday.

Anuradha Kudagoda, a university student from Sri Lanka, drowned in White Lake on July 28. He panicked and subsequently drowned while swimming to a floating dock or raft, according to an RCMP press release.

His body was found on the morning of July 29 when divers arrived at the lake.

The fundraiser has gathered over $14,000 for funeral expenses and has since been closed at the request of his parents, according to the fundraiser page.

"He touched many people in the community and his loss has deeply hurt a number of people, especially his parents," reads the GoFundMe page, organized by Kuruppuge Swarnadhipathi.

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