Family of crash victim Kobi Rigney-Foster say the 19-year-old lit up every room

Kobi Rigney-Foster’s heartbroken family says the 19-year-old was “the star of the show” as they mourn his death from a motorbike crash at Edinburgh on the weekend.

Two days after her teenage son died in a motorbike crash, the sound of a passing vehicle still gives Kerry Rigney a wave of hope before she remembers.

“Every time I hear a motorbike come past, I think it’s him,” Ms Rigney told The Advertiser.

“But I know it’s not him.”

Kobi Rigney-Foster’s life was cut short when he failed to negotiate a roundabout, crashing into a fence at Edinburgh in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Police rushed to the intersection of West Ave and Third Ave but Mr Rigney-Foster, 19, died at the scene.

Kobi Rigney-Foster with his mother, Kerry Rigney. Picture: supplied

His heartbroken family told The Advertiser Mr Rigney-Foster’s cheeky grin lit up every room he entered.

“He’d walk into any room and he was the star of the show, everyone wanted to talk to him, wanted to get to know him,” the young man’s sister, Chelsae Rigney-Foster, 22, said.

“You would be having the roughest day and he’d be able to make you smile.”

The Torrensville man recently got an apprenticeship in metal fabrication within Naval Group in the submarine construction area, and also worked at Jb Hi Fi on weekends.

But every minute he wasn’t at work, he was with friends, riding on his motorbike.

Chelsae recalled her brother’s love of motorcycles began when they were kids, at their grandparent’s Meningie farm.

Supplied Editorial Kobi Rigney-Foster with his sister, Chelsae. Picture: Supplied

“Sometimes he couldn’t even be bothered getting out of his pyjamas, he’d just chuck on a helmet on and off he went,” Chelsae said.

“It didn’t matter how many times he came off it or had close calls, he always got straight back on it.”

A proud Ngarrindjeri man, Mr Rigney-Foster also visited his family’s Meningie property, which was located on Ngarrindjeri land, to reflect on his culture.

Chelsae said her brother’s friends were his second family.

Supplied Editorial Kye Anderson, Jaylen Rigney and Kobi Rigney-Foster. Picture: supplied

“He just wanted to help everyone and make sure everyone was OK, and it never really mattered how he felt, he always put other people first,” she said.

“He wanted everyone to feel loved and safe.”

His mother will miss her son’s hugs most.

“Because he was so tall and his arms were so long … he’d wrap them around me and cover me,” Ms Rigney said.

“We’re going to miss him so much … I just don't know what to say, it’s so hard.”

A fundraiser has been created to assist the Rigney family with funeral costs, which has so far raised nearly $9000 dollars.

Donate to the fundraiser here.