Finley Bone: Noosa football community’s emotional tribute to lightning victim

The Noosa football community has united in grief at the same oval where a lightning strike claimed the life of a beloved coach and player.

Loved ones grieve at a memorial at the Cooroy Sporting Complex where talented football player Finley Bone lost her life after being struck by lightning. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Loved ones have gathered at the scene of a tragic lightning strike that claimed the life of a Noosa football player, placing candles and flowers in memory of the talented 21-year-old.

Finley Bone, 21, was at the Cooroy Sporting Complex on Mary River Rd on Thursday, October 30, when she was struck by lightning.

Emergency services were called to the oval about 5.25pm and Ms Bone was taken to the Nambour Hospital with critical injuries before her death.

Ms Bone’s mum Donna Markert said her daughter went to the fields with her partner to practise goal-kicking.

The grieving mum last week said Ms Bone was a “beautiful, kind and caring young woman” taken in the prime of her life.

Players from Noosa clubs gathered to light candles and place flowers in memory of their friend and fellow competitor Finley Bone. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Finley Bone’s mum Donna Markert, right, gathered with others to remember her much-loved daughter. Picture: Patrick Woods

Ms Bone was a much-loved Noosa Lions Football Club member of the FQPL3 women’s team and a coach of the club’s under-12 and under-13 girls.

At the same field that the freak tragedy occurred, up to 100 gathered today, November 3, to remember the young woman.

Finley Bone, 21, who died when she was struck by lightning at a Cooroy sporting field, and her mum Donna Markert. Picture: Contributed

Loved ones have gathered to remember Finley Bone. Picture: Patrick Woods.

The memorial was organised as a way to “share a little story about Finley”.

Hosted by the Cooroora United Football Club, the gathering gave people the space for Ms Bone’s loved ones to talk, hug and cry.

She was remembered as a talented athlete by other players from the Cooroora United Football Club and the Noosa Lions Football Club.

Young girls hugged each other as they cried and others placed flowers by a goal post.

Teammates and competitors gathered at the oval to place flowers. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Cooroora United Football Club president Nathan Harris said the event was about supporting each other.

Family and friends also gathered and firefighters arrived in their trucks for the sombre meeting.

The group lit candles and comforted each other before leaving

Ms Bone’s funeral will be held on Friday, November 7 at 1pm.

Mourners are asked to wear something colourful, no black or Hawaiian shirts because that is what Ms Bone wanted, with a gathering organised at the Noosa Lions Football Club from 3pm.

Last week, Noosa Mayor Frank Wilkie offered “heartfelt” condolences to the family, loved ones and friends of the young woman following the freak tragedy.