Partner of boat fatality Hayden Chisholm says that he ‘didn’t really want to go that day’

The heartbroken partner of a man killed in a horror boat crash off North Stradbroke Island has told of the moment his original plan for the day changed and he decided to join the trip.

The partner of a man that died when the boat he was a passenger in collided with a marine marker near North Stradbroke Island on Friday morning has described how her “world has been ripped apart” by his death.

Leigha Lavender said that her partner of three years, 30-year-old Bracken Ridge man Hayden Chisholm, would be sorely missed.

“He was the best person I knew,” she said.

“I still can’t believe it to be honest.”

She said that while Mr Chisholm had no children of his own, her three children had lost a terrific role model.

“My three children, they loved him dearly,” Ms Lavender said.

“My middle child (aged 17) is taking it very hard.

“Hayden would take him motorbike riding; they were good mates.”

Hayden Chisholm pictured with partner of three years Leigha Lavender. Image: Supplied

Ms Lavender met Mr Chisholm on a dating website three years ago and they had been together ever since.

She also revealed that if he hadn’t had engine trouble with his motorbike on Friday morning, Mr Chisholm would not have been on the boat when it crashed.

“He didn’t really want to go that day,” Ms Lavender said, revealing that Mr Chisholm had been planning a motorcycle ride to Mount Mee instead.

“He couldn’t fix his motorbike so he said yes to going.”

Just a few hours later, Mr Chisholm died after sustaining significant head injuries when the 3.9m tinny he was in collided with a marine marker in Canaipa Passage between Short Island and Stradbroke Island.

A 30-year-old Brisbane man has died at the scene of a boat accident after the tinny he was a passenger in hit a marine marker of North Stradbroke Island.

Malcolm Smith from Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) said that community members who witnessed the incident raced to Mr Chisholm’s aid.

“We got to the scene as quickly as we could – there were quite a few members of the public who were providing first aid,” he said.

“Very unusual for something like this to occur with this extremity; they were very unlucky.”

The driver of the boat – a 50-year-old man from Eden’s Landing – was transported to the Gold Coast University Hospital with facial injuries.

Mr Chisholm’s partner, Leigha took to social media on Saturday night to try to find those who had attempted to save him.

“I’m hoping to get in contact with the people that helped at the scene,” she wrote.

“Facebook makes miracles happen so if you know them please tag them so I can thank them for their efforts.”

Ms Lavender made the plea on a Queensland police Facebook post about the incident.

She told The Courier-Mail that “the police didn’t tell me much when they came to break the news.”

“I just want to know what happened,” she said.

Police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the cause of the crash.