The woman who drowned on the beach in West Auckland was a newlywed who moved to New Zealand earlier this year

The father-in-law of a woman who died after falling into the water on a West Auckland beach says it was the most tragic day for her family.

The woman has been named as Anisa Ghaniza. She had arrived from Afghanistan in January after her husband, Noorullah Habibi, had successfully submitted a visa application.

Habibi was a student at the University of Auckland and the couple had recently married, according to a report by Stuff.

Noorullah was unable to join Anisa and the rest of the family for a trip to the beach on Tuesday because he had a mid-semester exam to prepare, but he told his wife “it’s better to leave than stay home” because he would be busy working.

The couple had been engaged for years and had planned a large traditional wedding, but opted for a small ceremony due to the worsening Covid-19 pandemic.

Noorullah’s father Askar, an interpreter for the New Zealand Defense Forces in Bamiyan province, mother Soghra and one of her two younger brothers were at North Piha Beach, where they had a picnic lunch.

Askar told Stuff that he and a friend were babysitting young children while the women chatted along a catwalk.

When the women reached the top of the hill, they saw Anisa’s body in the water. By the time they hurtled down, other bathers and lifeguards were pulling her out of the water.

Askar posted on Facebook: “The most tragic days for my family [sic]. “

A spokesperson for Surf Life Saving Northern Region told the Herald that the alarm went off around 3:15 p.m.

Piha and Bethells’ inflatable rescue boats, each with two lifeguards, headed into the water, lifted Anisa from the water, and began CPR once they returned to the beach.

“Unfortunately, attempts to revive the person were unsuccessful and he died at the scene,” police said in a statement.

A spokesperson for Surf Lifesavers urged bathers to be very careful on Auckland’s west coast, as the beaches can be very dangerous when the surf is high.

Anisa’s death was one of six major incidents attended by surf lifeguards on the beaches of West Auckland; six people were saved and two died.

Anisa was believed to be on a rock near the water and fell when a large wave crashed on her.

She had been learning English through a specialist refugee class in Selwyn and had dreams of becoming a makeup artist.