A family have paid tribute to a “passionate” student who had a “deep love” for all things space while launching a bid to bring her body home.

Sai Tejaswi Kommareddy died after being rescued from the water off Brighton beach on April 11.

A cousin of Ms Kommareddy, who was studying a MSc in astronautics and space engineering at Cranfield University in Bedford, has launched a fundraising page for the repatriation of the 24-year-old’s remains to her home country of India.

The fundraiser has so far raised £21,770.

Writing on a GoFundMe page, Pradeep Reddy Lekkala said Sai’s life was cut short and that her family has been left with a “heavy heart and a deep sense of loss”.

“As we try to come to terms with our grief, we are also faced with the difficult task of repatriating Sai’s remains to her home country,” she wrote.

“This process has been challenging, both emotionally and financially.”

Describing her cousin, she said: “Sai was a driven and hardworking individual who dreamed of pursuing a career in aeronautics and space.

“She had a natural curiosity and a thirst for knowledge that inspired everyone around her.

“She had already made significant progress in her studies, but her dreams were cut short before she could achieve her full potential.”

Earlier this week, Cranfield University paid tribute to the student, who was vice president of the CranSEDS association, the university’s branch of UKSEDS (UK Students for the Exploration and Development of Space).

A spokeswoman for Cranfield University said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Sai Tejaswi Kommareddy, who was studying at Cranfield University.

“Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies are with her family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.

“We know this loss is devastating and we are supporting friends, family and our wider student and staff community. We would encourage anyone affected by this news to reach out to our wellbeing team for support and advice.”

Police, ambulance teams and coastguard crews from Brighton and Shoreham were called to the scene of the incident close to Brighton Marina after receiving reports of a person in the water.

A coastguard helicopter from Lee-on-the-Solent in Hampshire was also called.

A witness said that emergency services tried to save Sai’s life by performing CPR.

She was taken away on a stretcher by paramedics, but tragically her death was confirmed the next day by Sussex Police, who said they were not treating the incident as suspicious.

An inquest into Ms Kommareddy's death opened in Brighton on Monday and has been adjourned until November 6.