Two students of St. John remember their friend as a kind soul who loved the energy of life and are grateful for the support of strangers after her drowning death in St. John’s on the weekend. Alex Rebelo and Mason House have only known Natasha Gosho for a while, but quickly bonded with her when she came to Newfoundland and Labrador in May. “I only knew her for a few months, but in that time frame I connected with her so well,” Rebelo told CBC News Monday. “That’s just the kind of person she was. She was so warm and friendly and kind and just beautiful.” The group was celebrating Gosho’s first Canada Day with a day on the water at Rotary Sunshine Park on Friday. The day took a dramatic turn around 5 p.m., when Rebelo said Gosho fell off a pool float and never resurfaced. Goso’s body was pulled from the water on Saturday morning by a search and rescue team and a police investigation into her death is ongoing. “[Friday] it felt like an eternity, even though from start to finish it was probably three, four minutes,” Rebelo said. “Please wear your life jackets. All it takes is a few minutes or a few seconds for things to go wrong like it did for us.” House, Goso’s roommate, said the young woman came to the province from South Africa to study science, following “the North American dream” with the goal of becoming a pharmacist. He says Gosho loved the province and its people, but wasn’t always keen on the island’s weather. “He always said it was cold here,” House said with a laugh. “And she said the people here were so nice and friendly … Here, she felt so welcomed by everyone.” Mason House, left, and Alex Rebelo only knew Gosho for a few months, but say they became fast friends. (Garrett Barry/CBC) House and Rebelo say they felt that kindness from people across the province in the days after her death. House set up a GoFundMe page in her name to help her family and raise money to bring her body back to South Africa. Their efforts have raised nearly $17,000 as of Monday afternoon. The couple also thanks strangers who Rebelo said helped them overcome the emotional trauma and even tried to save Gosho right after the accident. “It brought us a lot of peace,” Rebelo said. “They didn’t even know her and her family is really overwhelmed by the outpouring of support,” House added. Mason House, left, remembers his friend Natasha Gosho as a kind soul who loved the energy that comes with life. (Submitted by Mason House) The couple say they will remember Gosho for her positivity, kindness, friendship, and her warmth and confidence in being open to trying new things – which House says will cherish their friendship. “He used to get up and dance, and every morning he would get up and sing in the apartment… And I like to sing too, but not in front of people,” he said. “I’m going to have to learn how to do it. You just have to not care. You just have to live. I’m so glad she did this, I have so much to remember her by.” Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador
