June 25: The doctor who, along with his seven-year-old daughter and a friend, was swept away by the sea on Henry Island in Bakkhali yesterday had driven to the weekend destination in a car he bought last week, relatives said today.

Somraj Gupta, 37, was an avid traveller and a keen birder and wildlife conservation worker, his friends and relatives said.

Somraj, daughter Samrina and Rishita Pramanik, a friend of the Guptas, were swallowed by the sea while they were walking down a creek on Henry Island in South 24-Parganas.

Rishita's body was found during low tide yesterday and the other two this morning. All three bodies were brought back to Calcutta this evening and cremated.

A relative of the Guptas said Somraj, Samrina and Rishita had walked far away from Henry Island towards the sea during low tide but couldn't return as sea water entered the creek. Tourists who have been to Henry Island said there are boards asking tourists not to venture beyond a point but most ignore the warning and go deep into the creek during low tide. The creek is dry during low tide but it takes 15-20 minutes for waves to enter. The water current then is tough to negotiate.

"We suspect the victims were pulled into the sea by the current because they had ventured deep into the creek. There are boards warning tourists in some areas," said Tathagata Basu, the superintendent of police, Sunderbans police district.

Somraj, a medical officer at IISER, Kalyani, was a popular name on the birdwatching circuit in the state and was known to identify even rare birds. He was also a skilled bird and wildlife photographer.

"Buro (Somraj) da loved nature and the wildlife. He would often go on weekend trips with his family. He had bought the Ford EcoSport a week ago and drove it to Bakkhali yesterday," said Soma Ghosh, a relative.

"Somraj was a diligent birdwatcher. He would pass on valuable information about sightings or habitat threat to us," said Shubhankar Patra of birdwatching group Sunday Watch.

Somraj had planned the trip with his friend Sumanta, another birder and wildlife conservation worker and Rishita's husband. The two families - Somraj, his wife Tandrima - a Calcutta police sub-inspector - and daughter and Sumanta, Rishika and their one-year-old son - left the city in Somraj's car yesterday morning.

The Pramaniks are residents of Kaikhali near the airport, while the Guptas live in Kasba.