By Editor,Max Aldred

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By MAX ALDRED, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA

Published: 02:45 BST, 18 September 2025 | Updated: 02:48 BST, 18 September 2025

A young Nepali student who died in a horrific gas leak at a Sydney restaurant has been identified, with his brother issuing a heartbreaking tribute.

Shiva Khatri died while cleaning the Haveli Restaurant in Riverstone when ‘extremely high’ levels of carbon monoxide permeated through the kitchen about 9.15pm on Tuesday.

Another cleaning contractor discovered Mr Khatri on the floor of the restaurant with another man, before five police officers were hospitalised after trying to save his life.

Mr Khatri’s brother, Mandip Khatri, informed his community of the loss.

‘With deep sorrow, I share that Shiva tragically lost his life yesterday morning in a workplace accident,’ he said.

‘On behalf of our family, I sincerely thank you for your kindness, prayers and support.’

Parramatta councillor Sreeni Pillamarria said the community was ‘deeply saddened’ by the tragic loss.

‘Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, and the Nepali community in Australia. May his soul rest in eternal peace,’ he said.

Shiva Khatri (pictured) was cleaning a Riverstone, Sydney, restaurant when a poisonous gas leak took his life

Emergency services attended Havelli Restaurant about 9.15pm on Tuesday upon reports a man was unresponsive in the building (above, fire crews at the scene)

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Jeff Hogan, Chief Superintendent from Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW), said crews arrived at the restaurant to discover high levels of carbon monoxide.

He said a further six people were evacuated from the apartments above the restaurant, but they were unaffected by the leak.

Hazmat specialists used gas and atmospheric detectors to measure the air quality.

Carbon monoxide has no natural smell, colour or taste. However, a ‘rotten egg’ smell, in mercaptan, is added to the gas in gas appliances.

When levels of carbon monoxide build up in the body, they can cause a swift poisoning and death.

NSW Police officers returned to the scene on Wednesday and investigations into the cause of the leak are ongoing.

Assistant Commissioner Gavin Wood said police were attempting to resuscitate Mr Khatri when they felt something was ‘amiss’.

‘At that time the five police officers have attempted CPR on that male, to the point where they felt there was something a little amiss in terms of the environment they were in, including an odour,’ he told media.

Family are working to repatriate Mr Khatri’s (above) remains to Nepal, as his brother thanked the community for their prayers

Five police officers were also injured as they attempted to save Mr Khatri’s life at the restaurant (above)

Tragic twist as the identity of a fatal restaurant gas leak is revealed

‘We believe they are very shaken up and again have been taken to hospital.’

Mr Khatri’s brother said his family is now looking to repatriate his brother’s remains.

‘We are raising funds to take Shiva’s body back to Nepal so that he can be laid to rest with his family,’ he said.

A GoFundMe for the effort has raised more than $39,000 in its first 24 hours as the community rallied around the Nepalese family.

The owner of the restaurant, Resham Singh, said he still has no idea what caused the gas leak.

He told Daily Mail he didn’t even know the name of the deceased cleaner, only the contractor who had supplied him.

‘I spoke with the contractor this morning and informed him about what had happened,’ he said.

‘He will inform the victim’s family. The cleaner was still doing his job when it happened. He cleans this and my other restaurant, Haveli at Stanhope Gardens.’

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Young man killed after gas leak at Sydney restaurant is identified – as his brother issues heartbreaking tribute

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