Tragic dad dies days after he lapsed into a coma following street arrest for alleged domestic violence attack
A father-of-two has died after his life support was switched off, days after he lost consciousness while being arrested by South Australian Police.
Gaurav Kundi, 42, was pinned down by officers in Royston Park, north east of Adelaide 's CBD, after they claimed he was involved in a domestic violence incident.
But Mr Kundi's wife, Amritpal Kaur, filmed portions of the arrest and alleged she tried to explain they had just been having a row before police intervened.
Footage showed Mr Kundi standing as two police officers restrain him on the roadside as his wife protests his innocence.
One officer appeared to use their foot to trip or push Mr Kundi, causing him to fall onto the bitumen.
Ms Kaur told NIne News she stopped recording out of panic, but claims one of the officers then placed a knee on her husband's neck.
Mr Kundi became unresponsive shortly after being brought to the ground.
Ms Kaur admitted her husband had been drinking and they had in a minor roadside argument before police arrived.
In a statement on Friday, SA Police however said that a review found that officers did not force a knee onto Mr Kundi's neck during the arrest.
'The senior investigating officer conducting the [Police] Commissioner's inquiry has reviewed body worn vision and it has been confirmed that at no time was a knee applied to Mr Kundi's neck,' the statement read.
'His head was not forced into the car or roadway at any point. However, the use of restraints during this incident will be closely examined during the Commissioner's inquiry.'
Police say they will continue to investigate the incident which, they said, will have 'several layers of independent oversight'.
The police statement released on May 29 said: 'At 2.45am, police witnessed an altercation between a man and a woman on Payneham Road, Royston Park.
'During the attempt to arrest the 42-year-old man from Modbury North, he became unresponsive.'
Paramedics took him to Royal Adelaide Hospital in a critical condition. He died in hospital in the early hours of Friday, June 13.
Police are investigating the incident as a death in custody.
'Major Crime Investigation Branch will continue to investigate the cause and circumstances of his death and prepare a report for the State Coroner,' a police spokesman said on Friday.
'The investigation and inquiries of this incident will have several layers of independent oversight, including the Director of Public Prosecution, Office of Public Integrity and the State Coroner.'
English-language Indian news outlets have been covering the story closely, and SA Police have been providing updates directly to the Indian Consulate.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has also spoken out about the tragedy, and issued a statement to reassure Australia's large Indian community.
'This is an investigation that will be done properly,' she said.
'Be assured of our friendship certainly with India, but also the importance of the Indian diaspora here in Australia.'
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