On Wednesday, 7th February 2024, tragedy struck when Alifia Soeryo, an Indonesian student studying in Adelaide, Australia, lost her life after being struck by a falling tree weighing 10 tons in North Adelaide. Alifia, a student at Adelaide University, met with the unfortunate incident while resting at the University of Adelaide’s football field on War Memorial Drive.
According to the police report, Alifia had been jogging in the area in the morning and had stopped to rest beneath a large tree. Tragically, the tree trunk suddenly broke, resulting in a fatal accident. Despite efforts by officers to rescue her by cutting the tree trunk, Alifia succumbed to her injuries on the spot, as reported by 7News on Sunday, 11th February 2024.
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The news of Alifia’s untimely demise deeply saddened both Indonesia and Australia. The Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Sydney promptly coordinated with local authorities and assisted the grieving family in managing the arrangements for Alifia’s remains.
Metropolitan firefighter Declan Dwyner revealed that the tree trunk responsible for the tragic accident weighed between 8 to 10 tons and fell from a height of 20 to 25 meters.
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“We arrived within minutes and upon realizing someone was trapped beneath, we immediately deployed tools and attempted first aid. Unfortunately, there was nothing more we could do,” expressed Dwyer.
The sudden loss of the Indonesian student in Australia left their friends deeply shocked and disheartened. Friends of the victim continued to express messages of sorrow and disbelief, struggling to come to terms with the sudden passing of their beloved friend.
Alifia Soeryo was known for her warmth and affection among fellow students. As of 13th February 2024, the victim’s family and embassy were still in the process of arranging for the repatriation of her body for burial in Indonesia.
