Adelaide parklands tree fall victim Alifia Soeryo’s body is on a flight back to Indonesia
The body of 22-year-old international student who was crushed to death by a tree in Adelaide has finally been sent home after an emergency call for funding.
SA News
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The body of Alifia Soeryo, who was struck and killed by a falling tree, has been flown back to her home country after emergency fundraising raised more than $16,000 to date.
On Wednesday, February 5, the 22-year-old Indonesian international student was jogging around the University of Adelaide soccer ground, when a gum tree unexpectedly fell and struck her.
The tree weighing eight tons killed Ms Soeryo, and a memorial service was held last Sunday at the accident site which saw more than 100 mourners attend, including her mother from Indonesia.
At 10.30am on Thursday morning, Ms Soeryo’s body was taken aboard Singapore Airlines flight SQ278 to Singapore, where it will be redirected to her hometown of Jakarta.
Ms Soeryo’s friend Aziza Nathin, 18, who attended the University of Adelaide with her, said her funeral would be held on Friday in Jakarta, 11.30am Adelaide time.
“It was just so surprising to see how many people were willing to help,” Ms Nathin said.
“Last week we raised about five thousand dollars, but a lot more people have heard about what happened since then, and we are getting a lot more donations.”
Ms Nathin said a number of lecturers who taught Ms Soeryo pitched into the GoFundMe fundraiser to help cover funeral and travel costs.
Friends at the university motorsport team donated $200 and the Australian Professional Firefighters Association – some of the members who were first responders at the accident – also gave $500.
A spokeswoman for the Association said the money was intended to “support her family in laying her to rest, and to mentally and emotionally support the attending emergency services personnel in what was otherwise a helpless and tragic situation”.
According to friends and colleagues who spoke at her memorial, Ms Soeryo was a high-achieving student pursuing a Master of Media and had dreams of working in the motorsport industry.
Loved ones also said she was a keen cyclist and fan of pop artist Taylor Swift.
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