Liam Van Horen: Heartbroken mum pays tribute to her ‘beautiful boy’ who died in Sunshine Coast street

The mother of a student who died after being run over while lying in Sunshine Coast street says the trauma of her loss has been compounded by Covid-19 restrictions, as she tells how he was always there to help others.

Liam Van Horen (bottom left) in better times with his brother Matt, mum Ruth and dad Gerard. Parkville Street resident Lara Williams (top right) and her mum embrace at the site of Mr Van Horen’s tragic death.

Heartbroken mum Ruth Harris says people were drawn to her son and wanted to be with him as her family tries to deal with his tragic death.

Liam Van Horen, 24, was working towards his goal of helping others when his life was cut short on a Sunshine Coast street on Saturday night.

“He reached out to people, he would do things for people without them even asking (and) he would just intuitively know what people needed,” Ms Harris said.

“People wanted to be near him.”

She said her son was studying to be a paramedic, a profession which naturally suited his personality.

But Liam died in a Sippy Downs accident when he was struck by a car.

He had been out with friends after winning a reserve grade rugby union match playing for the University of the Sunshine Coast against Caloundra.

It’s understood he became separated from the group and was lying on Parkville Street when the incident happened.

Tributes are flowing for Liam Van Horen after the New South Wales man lost his life in a tragic incident at Sippy Downs.

He leaves behind his father Gerard, mother Ruth and younger brother Matt, 21.

In the cruellest of circumstances, the family are not only dealing with the death of their beloved son and brother but are separated by Covid-19 restrictions.

His father was already in Queensland for work at the time of the incident and has arrived on the Sunshine Coast to gather his boy’s possessions.

“You don’t know how to do this, there’s no playbook that tells you how to navigate this,” Ms Harris said.

“We’re just devastated … the distance has not been an easy thing.

“His brother is feeling it very deeply as well.

“People really respected and loved him.”

The 54-year-old said her son was “so social and just loved life and loved people”.

“He was a very kind soul who loved being around people,” she said.

“He was smart with a deep sense of empathy towards others.

“He had time for everybody.”

Parkville Street resident Lara Williams pays her respects at a roadside memorial to Liam Van Horen. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Mr Van Horen had only been studying on the Sunshine Coast since March.

“We hadn’t seen him since he left … but we spoke often, he was always in touch but it wasn’t the same as seeing him,” his mum said.

“He just cared deeply for his family and his friends.

“He seems to have made an impact up at the university in the short time that he’s been up there.

“It’s been really lovely hearing from all of them, the impact he’s had since he’s been up there.”

The avid sport lover played basketball, rugby and touch footy.

“I was always doing the whole mum taxi thing to 50 different sports,” Ms Harris said.

“He got involved in the rugby club … he just got a job at BWS and he was really glad because he had no money as a student,” she said with a laugh.

“He was loving it up there … he loved the camaraderie of the team.”

It comes as a growing number of tributes are left at a memorial on Parkville Street, just a few hundred metres away from where Liam lived.

Parkville Street resident Lara Williams and her mum say Mr Van Horen’s death has shattered the community. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Resident Lara Williams and her mum said the tragedy had shattered the community.

Others, who didn’t want to give their names, said they too were consumed with grief.

Friends, students and Parkville Street residents are hoping to hold a memorial for Liam in coming days.