Indian-origin worker killed by falling branch in NZ, wife left 'completely alone'

What began as a routine day of yard work ended in tragedy for an Indian-origin couple in New Zealand after a falling tree branch killed Paradeep Singh, leaving behind his newly arrived wife with no family, income or support system in the country.Singh was known to friends and family as Deep. He died this week while carrying out maintenance work at his home in Cambridge, Waikato. He had been working outside with others on his day off when the fatal accident happened.According to witnesses, Singh was helping trim tree branches when he suffered a serious head injury. Friends believe he may have been struck after a branch bounced back or was hit by equipment being used during the work.“A branch hit him on the left side of his head, and it must have done some internal damage,” a spokesperson for the couple’s friends and family told 1News.Those nearby rushed to help after hearing him cry out.“Paradeep yelled and everyone ran towards him immediately and called emergency services,” the spokesperson said.Police said officers were called to the property at around 3.15pm to assist ambulance crews. St John later confirmed it sent a rapid response unit and an operations manager to the scene, but Singh was pronounced dead there. The case has now been referred to the Coroner.Singh had moved to New Zealand in 2023 and worked as an operations manager for a horticulture business. Friends said he was the sole earning member of the household and also financially supported his elderly parents in India, including his paralysed mother.His wife Kamal had only recently joined him in NZ after the couple married about six months ago. Relatives say she has no immediate family in the country and had not yet settled into life there.“She came here for him,” a family spokesperson said.They added: “She has no income source, no money, she hasn’t even from my understanding opened a bank account yet.”Another friend added: “She has no money, no support system, and she is completely alone right now.”The couple had planned to apply for residency in NZ and later travel back to India for a wedding celebration with relatives and friends.Friends and members of the local community have now launched a fundraising campaign to help return Singh’s body to India for funeral rites and to support Kamal in the aftermath of the tragedy.“His family is facing unimaginable grief and urgently needs support,” organisers said.