The Perth community has rallied behind the daughters of a Perth couple after they drowned at Conspicuous Cliff Beach.
The Perth community has rallied behind the daughters of a Perth couple after they drowned at Conspicuous Cliff Beach.
By Claire Ottaviano
February 7, 2025 — 3.59pm
The Perth community has rallied behind two girls who were orphaned after their parents drowned in the state’s Great Southern in December.
A GoFundMe for the daughters of Sabrina Ahmed, 40, and Dr Mohammad Shahidul Hasan Swapan, 44, has raised more than $11,000 since its launch on Friday morning.
The family of four was holidaying with three other families near Walpole when tragedy struck on December 28.
Ahmed and Swapan were swimming at Conspicuous Cliff Beach with their ten-year-old daughter and friend Sajib Nandi, 42, when the group became caught in a rip.
Nandi, the most competent swimmer, was able to get the young girl to the safety of a rock, but he too got into trouble.
Bystanders who witnessed the scene unfolding were able to pull him and the other couple from the water.
Emergency services and police performed CPR on Ahmed and Swapan, but they could not be revived.
Nandi survived and was rushed to Denmark hospital.
The couple’s friend Tasneemul Galib told WAtoday the incident sent shockwaves through Perth’s tight-knit Bangladeshi community, which had rallied to support the girls.
“We have WhatsApp groups for drop-offs and pick-ups, there are people providing meals and food and taking them to different events,” he said.
“We are very close – myself, Sajib, Sabrina and their families, we all work together on cultural activities and events for the Bangladesh Australia Association of WA.
“Most of the families are first-generation families, so it’s the friends we make in BAAWA that become our family, our security network.”
He said the local community had hoped to join forces to help the girls financially, but mounting bills and a delay in accessing the couple’s assets had left a significant shortfall.
The girls, aged 10 and 15, are now under the guardianship of their maternal uncle, but remain in their family home in Willetton.
“We really want the girls to be able to continue to pay the mortgage so they can stay in their home where there are memories of their parents, and also so they have something for the future,” he said.
“They’re in counselling and they’ve started school again, which has also been very supportive.”
The girl’s maternal grandparents have since arrived in Perth, with their paternal grandparents arriving at the end of February.
Swapan was a well known associate professor and researcher at Curtin University’s School of Design and the Built Environment.
In a tribute, Curtain University said his work focused on incorporating community participation in planning, sustainable cities and water-sensitive urban design.
“His work, dedication and kindness made a lasting impact on his colleagues, the Bangladeshi community in Perth and many who had the privilege of knowing him,” they said.
Ahmed was also highly respected at the WA Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, where she worked as a planning officer.
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Claire Ottaviano is a breaking news journalist with WAtoday, and has extensive experience in local government reporting.