Saudi student Atheer al-Khalban drowned to death after falling into a river at Glacier National Park in the US state of Montana on Monday, Azernews reports, citing Al Arabiya.

The 28-year-old student was studying in the US state of Kansas for a PhD in English language, Al Arabiya reported, citing her cousin Abdullah.

“The family was devastated when it heard Atheer fell in a river in the US. It was so painful to hear that while they were waiting for her return from the US with a PhD,” Abdullah told Al Arabiya

Abdullah said that al-Khalban hadn’t visited her family in the Kingdom for more than a year because she was busy with her studies, adding that she had gone to the US with her brother.

He also said that al-Khalban fell into the river during a trip to Montana with her friends.