An international student from India has been declared drowned by police after they conducted a shoreline search at Wreck Beach and Acadia Beach in hopes of finding the missing swimmer. Police Dog Services, RCMP Helicopter Air 1 and Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems (aka drones) have also been deployed to assist in the search. Efforts to date have not been successful in locating the missing man who has been identified as 26-year-old Rahul Ranwa. 

By PD Raj – Senior Reporter DESIBUZZCanada

VANCOUVER – An international student from India has been declared drowned by police after they conducted a shoreline search at Wreck Beach and Acadia Beach in hopes of finding the missing swimmer. 

Police Dog Services, RCMP Helicopter Air 1 and Remote Piloted Aircraft Systems (aka drones) have also been deployed to assist in the search. Efforts to date have not been successful in locating the missing man who has been identified as 26-year-old Rahul Ranwa. 

University RCMP continues to engage support from other agencies and additional shoreline searches have been requested in areas not easily accessible by foot.

Police were called to Wreck Beach on Thursday afternoon for a report of a swimmer in distress.

On April 17, 2025, at 3:25 p.m., the University RCMP received a report of a swimmer in distress at Wreck Beach between trials 4 and 6. 

Ranwa was apparently in the water yelling for help and struggling to swim. A bystander entered the water in an attempt to affect a rescue. Unfortunately, the rescuer had to return to shore to avoid succumbing to the waters themselves and bystanders lost sight of the man. 

With assistance from the Vancouver Fire Rescue, BC Ambulance Service, Metro Vancouver Parks and the Canadian Coast Guard, a marine search was undertaken. The hovercraft CCGS Moytel deployed divers and two rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIB) from the Kitsilano Coast Guard Station conducted an extensive search.

 “Our thoughts are with the man’s family and friends during this difficult time,” said Staff Sergeant Kris Clark of the BC RCMP. “The search has been suspended due to darkness but will resume in the morning.”

A fundraiser has been set up to support the family of Ranwa. An organizer behind a GoFundMe page in Ranwa’s honour identifies themself as his cousin, Yuvraj Singh.

 “Rahul was just 26, the only son of his parents, and had come to Canada last year as an international student. He was pursuing his MBA at Vancouver Community College — a bright student, a member of the Student Council, and someone who worked tirelessly at a part-time job to support his family back home,” said Singh.

Ranwa’s family is raising funds to return his body to his parents in India.

“Beyond funeral and repatriation costs, we are also raising funds to help clear the debts taken by his parents in India for his education and relocation. Rahul’s dreams were built on their sacrifices, and we want to ease the financial burden they are left carrying in the midst of unimaginable grief.”

As of Monday afternoon, the page has raised over $20,000.