Two days ago I got a phone call from my best mate's sister, she told me that he had been involved in rock climbing accident in Switzerland and that despite a rescue mission being launched, he had died.
I was, and still am, absolutely gutted. He was 21 and without doubt one of the nicest blokes I have ever met. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't still be here in Sydney - when I was getting to know him during my first 3 months here he was the only 'local' mate I had. We roadtripped around Australia - he showed me around different, new places and welcomed me into his family home where I met his mum, dad and sister. Recently he spoke to me about moving to England for a while - I encouraged him, offering him advice on Europe and a longterm place to stay in London. Him & I went to London for a month in June - his family came over and I showed him & them around. He was having the time of his life, I came back to Sydney and he stayed in London. He was over the moon when he received a 3 month placement offer as a holiday site rep in the Swiss alps - where, in the end, his life would end.
I've just been sat here, 2 days after being told, realizing the news really hasn't really sunk in yet - reading his facebook profile with the hundreds and hundreds of RIP posts from all his friends and I am just totally absolutely gutted. I can't even attempt to imagine what his family are going through at the moment. I feel pretty useless at the moment - I've offered to help but I'm not sure there's much I can do to console a family after such a loss??
This might not be the right place but this tragic tragic event really put things into perspective for me so I'm sorry if this sounds dramatic but I wanted to tell everyone that life is precious and can be taken away at any moment. Make sure you tell people you love them, be kind, be honest and be happy. If someone is special to you let them know!
Thanks for reading.
Rest in peace Alex.
I was, and still am, absolutely gutted. He was 21 and without doubt one of the nicest blokes I have ever met. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't still be here in Sydney - when I was getting to know him during my first 3 months here he was the only 'local' mate I had. We roadtripped around Australia - he showed me around different, new places and welcomed me into his family home where I met his mum, dad and sister. Recently he spoke to me about moving to England for a while - I encouraged him, offering him advice on Europe and a longterm place to stay in London. Him & I went to London for a month in June - his family came over and I showed him & them around. He was having the time of his life, I came back to Sydney and he stayed in London. He was over the moon when he received a 3 month placement offer as a holiday site rep in the Swiss alps - where, in the end, his life would end.
I've just been sat here, 2 days after being told, realizing the news really hasn't really sunk in yet - reading his facebook profile with the hundreds and hundreds of RIP posts from all his friends and I am just totally absolutely gutted. I can't even attempt to imagine what his family are going through at the moment. I feel pretty useless at the moment - I've offered to help but I'm not sure there's much I can do to console a family after such a loss??
This might not be the right place but this tragic tragic event really put things into perspective for me so I'm sorry if this sounds dramatic but I wanted to tell everyone that life is precious and can be taken away at any moment. Make sure you tell people you love them, be kind, be honest and be happy. If someone is special to you let them know!
Thanks for reading.
Rest in peace Alex.
Not really sure that any words I write would be meaningful.
