Family devastated by loss of Nambour man Ryan Peace, beloved fiance and stepdad

A heartbroken mum of four has lost her husband-to-be and is searching for answers regarding what happened in the lead-up to his death.

Ryan Peace, 27, who tragically died by suicide, leaving behind his partner and her four children, aged three, eight, nine and 13.

After the tragic loss of her partner, a Sunshine Coast mum has opened up about the man she loved and the unanswered questions surrounding his final days.

Tegan Bonner, 29, is mourning the loss of her fiance, Ryan Peace, 27, who tragically died by suicide last weekend, leaving behind her and her four children, aged three, eight, nine and 13.

The couple, who had been together for about a year and recently became engaged, shared a deep connection.

“When two people have a connection, it’s a connection you will only get once in a lifetime and you just know when you have that which is what Ryan and I had,” Ms Bonner said.

“He would write me beautiful letters all the time, I’ve got stacks of them.

“He was so happy, with us and his family, but he was just struggling,” she said.

Originally from Brisbane, Mr Peace lived in Nambour with Ms Bonner and her children, where he became a beloved stepfather.

“They absolutely adored him and loved him,” Ms Bonner said, through tears.

In the last two months, her youngest son would call Mr Peace his best friend.

“He would walk up to Ryan and say, ‘you’re my best friend, dad,’ and Ryan would say back, ‘you’re my best friend too, son,’ Ms Bonner said.

“Now, he keeps asking, ‘when’s my best friend coming home?’ It’s heartbreaking.”

Ryan Peace tragically died aged 27.

Her eight-year-old son, preparing for his birthday, has also been devastated.

“I had him in my arms last night crying, saying, ‘I just want him to be there for my birthday,’” she said.

Ms Bonner said that Mr Peace had sought help at a hospital for his mental health struggles in the days leading up to his death.

“He left me a message saying he was at the hospital and going to mental health,” she said.

She said she was told by a man, who was letting Mr Peace use his phone, that Mr Peace was going to be admitted.

“Obviously that’s not the case which is really sad, he has obviously slipped through the cracks or failed which I find very unfair.”

Ryan Peace with Tegan Henderson.

On the day of his death, Ms Bonner received a video message from Mr Peace apologising and expressing his love for their family.

He wrote to give his love to his family and mentioned the he was going to the park.

Ms Bonner immediately contacted police and begged them to reach the park as quickly as possible. Later, officers came to her home with the devastating news.

One of Mr Peace’s passions was tattooing, and he had tattooed butterflies on Ms Bonner.

To honour his memory, she and her children visited the park and placed butterfly decorations on a tree when a large butterfly flew past them.

“I know that was him,” she said.

Ryan Peace with fiance Tegan Henderson.

Ms Bonner described Mr Peace as someone who often hid his emotions, believing that crying was a sign of weakness.

“Crying is not weak. It’s not weak to speak, and it’s not weak to cry,” she said, urging others to seek help and challenging the stigma surrounding mental health.

“If someone is reaching out for help, that means they need help,” she said.

She plans to seek answers from the hospital to understand why her fiance was not admitted when he sought care.

“I might not be able to change what happened, but at least I’ll know I tried to do something for him.”

She said that while the support from those reaching out has been comforting, it can never fill the void.

“The true support I’ve ever needed was his. I don’t want anyone else, I just need his support back,” she said.

If you or someone you love is in crisis or needs support right now, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636. If it is an emergency please call triple-0.