NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
DENTON, TX, May 30, 2026 — An Indian graduate student who had just completed his master’s degree in computer science died while rescuing three friends from drowning in a Texas waterway, according to his family.
Anurup Reddy Koduru, a recent graduate of the University of North Texas, is being remembered as a hero after giving his life to save others.
According to a GoFundMe campaign launched by his brother, Ashrith Reddy Koduru, Anurup did not hesitate when he saw three friends struggling in the water.
“My brother was a true hero,” his brother wrote. “When he saw three of his friends drowning, he jumped into the water and successfully saved all three of them.”
But the rescue turned tragic. According to the fundraiser, Koduru’s feet became entangled in a submerged fishing wire during the rescue. The current then pulled him into deeper water, dragging him about 20 feet below the surface. Rescue crews later recovered his body.
“He gave his life so others could live,” his brother wrote.
The heartbreaking loss came just six days after Koduru shared a celebratory post on LinkedIn announcing that he had completed his Master of Science degree in Computer Science at UNT.
In the post, he reflected on lessons learned during graduate school, writing that “building things teaches you more than studying them.” He described working on projects that included a flight prediction model built on 27 million records, an information retrieval system, and a full-stack application developed on his own time.
Koduru also wrote about balancing overnight security shifts with graduate classes and a job search, saying the experience taught him to be disciplined with his time and energy.
“Grateful for everything University of North Texas gave me — the coursework, the resources, and especially the people,” he wrote, adding that he was actively seeking a software engineering or full-stack development role.
The post, filled with optimism and plans for the future, has taken on a poignant significance in the wake of his death.
His family is now raising funds to bring his body back to India so that his parents and relatives can perform his final rites. The fundraiser states that the costs of international repatriation, transportation, and legal documentation are substantial.
Friends and supporters have begun sharing tributes online, remembering Koduru not only for his academic accomplishments but also for the courage and selflessness he displayed in his final moments.
