Picture captures final moments of drowning victim’s life

By: Melissa Randall
mrandall@abc6.com 
@MRandallABC6

An eerie final post on Face Book haunts a Providence family. 19–year–old Augustin Kabura added a picture from Georgiaville Pond in Smithfield over the holiday weekend with the caption: "Last day at the beach with bro." About 20 minutes later he would be pulled from the water. Kabura later die at the hospital.

“It’s like he knew what was going to happen… It’s like he’s saying good bye his friend and the world,” said Rievokata Nznahora, Kabura’s older sister.

According to friends, Augustin was trying to swim to an island. He tired, and headed back to shore. Sadly, he drowned before making it. His sister says Augustin, a high school athlete, was actually a strong swimmer.

“When they said that he drowned while he was in the lake or the pond… I didn’t believe it,” she explained.

It was an activity their large family did together often. In fact, swimming is the memory one of his youngest siblings holds closest to her heart.

“When he took me to the pool, and he taught me how to swim there,” described Jennifer Nshimiyimama, Kabura’s 8-year-old sister. 

Augustin’s loved ones remember him as a nice boy, and as a dedicated student. He’d graduated from Providence Career and Technical Academy, and was a Law Enforcement major at CCRI. His family, who immigrated here from Africa 10 years ago, says Augustin made them proud. They are at peace with his death.

“When the time comes, you can not escape it so… it was his time,” said Nznahora. 

The family is thankful for beach-goers who attempted to save Augustin by performing CPR for about 45 minutes. The teen will be laid to rest this Saturday.

© WLNE-TV 2015