Updated 6:10pm Tuesday, January 30: Four people, including three teenagers, have been arrested over the drowning of a international student on the Hobart Waterfront overnight.
A 17-year-old female and 25-year-old female were taken into custody during searches in the greater Glenorchy area on Tuesday evening, while a 17-year-old male and and 19-year-old male were arrested in the Claremont area.
Police say investigations into the incident are continuing. Charges are yet to be laid.
The victim, 27-year-old Deepinderjeet Singh, died in the River Derwent around 10pm on Monday.
1:35pm Tuesday, January 30: Police now believe that a man who drowned on the Hobart Waterfront was “pushed into the water from behind” by a person attempting to steal from the woman he was with.
Detective Inspector David Gill said investigators were following a “specific line of inquiry” into the incident, which was reported to police around 10pm on Monday.
He said while the woman managed to climb out of the water and raise the alarm, the man sadly could not be revived despite the best efforts of police, emergency services and members of the public who came to his aid.
“Following extensive investigations this morning, police believe that the man and woman were pushed into the water from behind by a person unknown to them in an attempt to steal the woman’s handbag,” Inspector Gill said.
“This is a disgraceful, cowardly act which has resulted in a terrible tragedy.”
“We are calling on the person or people involved to come forward to police to assist us with our investigation so we can help provide closure to the family involved.”
Gill called on anyone that may have seen anything around the Hobart Waterfront area at the time of the tragedy to come forward and report it to police or Crimestoppers.
“This is a distressing incident and we are treating this as a very serious criminal investigation.”
Police divers could be seen at the wharf on Tuesday afternoon, scouring the riverbed for items that may be of interest to the investigation.
Friends of the victim, an international student, were also the waterfront scene having earlier flown in from the mainland.
Heroic bystanders praised by police after 27-year-old man drowns on Hobart waterfront
Police have confirmed that a man found dead on the Hobart Waterfront overnight drowned after falling into the water.
Detective Inspector David Gill said the 27-year-old fell into the water alongside a woman from PW1 around 10pm on Monday.
He said the woman managed to swim to a nearby ladder, climbed out of the water and raised the alarm.
“The man, who could not swim, struggled to stay on the surface,” Gill said.
“Two passing members of the public initially entered the water to help the man, with police attending shortly afterwards finding all three men struggling.”
Three police officers then entered the water and pulled the man onto the rear deck of the Van Diemen police vessel, which was moored next to where the incident occurred.
Inspector Gill said the two members of the public climbed out using a nearby ladder, however the 27-year-old “could not be revived” by paramedics.
“We’re in the process of notifying next of kin so we’re unable to provide further details about the victim at this stage,” Gill said.
“I would like to recognise the heroic efforts of the passing members of the public who entered the water in an attempt to rescue the man – as well as the outstanding efforts of our responding police and emergency service personnel under very difficult circumstances.”
Gill said initial investigations have revealed there were a number of people in the area, some of whom were people fishing.
“If you were in the area, or saw people in the vicinity, please contact Police on 131444 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestopperstas.com.au.”
12am Tuesday, 30 January: A man’s body has been pulled from the water at the Hobart waterfront this evening.
Police say officers were called to the River Derwent near Franklin Wharf just after 10pm on Monday where they discovered the man deceased.
An investigation has now been launched into the circumstances leading up to the incident “prior to the man entering the water”.
People are being asked to avoid the area while emergency responders examine the scene.
Anyone who witnessed the incident is urged to contact police on 131444 or Crimestoppers anonymously.
