‘Forever heartbroken’: Shattered family of crash victims share unbearable pain

Kate Leadbetter and Matthew Field had renovated their beautiful home and built their unborn son, Miles, a nursery.

In an empty home in Alexandra Hills is an empty nursery for a baby who will never be born.

It was created with joy and love – a room for a little boy who would have been named Miles.

Instead, the families of Kate Leadbetter and Matthew Field will now live without them, forced to condense their lives into a written statement read tearfully to a camera.

Kate, 31, and Matt, 37, were killed on Tuesday when it is alleged a teenager in a stolen car ran a red light, hit a truck and rolled into them as they walked their dogs.

The couple killed in Alexandra Hills. Matty Field and Kate Leadbetter. Pic from Facebook

The couple, who were expecting their first child, died at the scene.

“Kate, Matt and little Miles – we love you, we miss you. We are forever heartbroken,” a family member said in a filmed message released to the public.

“Our lives have been shattered. We are grief-stricken that they never got to experience the birth of their baby boy who we discovered in recent weeks was to be named Miles.

“There is a nursery created by Kate and Matt with joy and love and anticipation, that our little grandson Miles will never occupy.

“Talented and funny and such good company, at the happiest point in their lives, about to embark on the thrilling adventure of parenthood.

“We were so looking forward to sharing that adventure with them.”

Relatives told The Courier-Mail the couple had recently renovated their home, with “handyman” Matt and interior stylist Kate doing most of the work themselves.

But Tuesday’s tragedy has left two families with hearts they say are now “forever broken” by a tragedy that shocked a nation.

The families of Kate Leadbetter and Matty Fields have issued a video statement about their loss. Supplied.

Through tears, Matt’s parents, Kate’s parents and step-parents huddled together and spoke of their unbearable pain.

But the group said their grief was “not unique”, as they acknowledged the pain of countless other Australian families who have lost loved ones to youth crime.

“To have lost three cherished members of our families in such a senseless and sudden way is beyond our comprehension,” the family said.

“For us to sit here today without our beautiful son Matt and our darling daughter Kate is unbearable.

“Many families unfortunately know all too well how we have felt since Tuesday afternoon.

“Often their losses do not receive the same widespread sympathy that helps sustain us now.

“All children are precious and wonderful in the eyes of their families but Matt and Kate were truly great human beings. “

Those sentiments were echoed by loved ones and a former colleague, who told of Kate’s radiant personality.

Matty Field and Kate Leadbetter were killed in Alexandra Hills while walking their dogs.

Aunt Danielle Leadbetter called Kate a “beautiful, generous and selfless” woman.

“She put herself last,” Ms Leadbetter said.

“That just sums up who Kate was as a person.

“She was funny … She had a great sense of humour and a beautiful smile.”

Kate worked as an interior stylist. She had only returned to work this month after being laid off during the pandemic last year.

A former colleague – who also played indoor cricket with Matt – said Kate was organised and professional, but knew how to have fun.

“She was easy to talk to about work or what she did on the weekend and that’s how I found out her boyfriend played indoor cricket and that it was Matt,” the colleague said.

“She was a very grounded, no fuss type of girl. 

“When we were on site with her, she was organised, had everything under control and kept the working environment light and fun.”

The man said it was obvious how in love the couple was.

“I find it no coincidence that they found each other and that with each other, they had a partner they deserved,” he said.

The intersection where Kate Leadbetter, 31, and partner Matty Field, 37 were fatally struck is filled with flowers and presents from the public. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

A sea of 100 flowers now sits at the corner of Finucane Road and Vienna Road where Kate, Matthew and Miles’ lives were tragically lost.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll laid their own bouquet at the site that included red, pink and purple flowers tied with pink bows.

Toys of all sizes – including two CareFlight bears accompanied heartfelt notes, a pair of baby socks, candles and lanterns – were also gifted.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll lay flowers for Kate Leadbetter and Matty Field at the intersection of Vienna and Finucane roads. Picture: Richard Walker

One note left by a close friend of Kate’s detailed the final words she had heard from her friend only days before she died.

“My heart feels like it has been broken into a million pieces,” the note said.

“When I left your place on Sunday, your last words to me were ‘I love spending time with you, you fill my cup.”

“I will hold onto those last words forever.”

“Matty even though you were a sh*t beer pong partner, I know you were going to be an amazing dad.”

One man, who brought flowers from his garden, said he had seen the couple

within the community several times.

“We used to see them walk past our house with their dogs, I recognised

Frankie right away,” he said.

“We will make sure you all will be remembered forever and your darling baby,” another note said.