Phillip Walsh: Adventure lover and father of two found dead on the Sunshine Coast

The wife of a Moreton Bay man found dead on the Sunshine Coast has paid tribute to her high school sweetheart who was a devoted father of two.

Phillip Walsh is being remembered as a “devoted dad” and a daredevil who loved the outdoors.

It was the Mango Hill man’s passion for running and climbing that ultimately led to the tragic accident that claimed his life.

The 33-year-old’s disappearance on Monday sparked a full scale land and air search after he was last seen in Redcliffe.

His 2010 black Nissan Navara was later found at the Mount Beerwah car park, a place he went frequently to exercise, in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

Mango Hill dad Phillip Walsh is being remembered as an amazing father to Koopa, 11 and Oliver, 8. Picture: Contributed.

Police, State Emergency Services personnel, friends, family and volunteers scoured the area for two days before a devastating breakthrough yesterday afternoon.

Mr Walsh’s body was found by a team of local climbers after hours of searching the thick terrain.

His wife Emma Walsh paid tribute to her high school sweetheart with his death leaving a hole in the close-knit family’s life.

The pair met when she was 15 and Mr Walsh was 16 years old.

It’s understood Mr Walsh slipped and fell while climbing.

“It was a horrible accident, Phillip just lived life on the edge in regards to doing stupid sh*t, he was a risk taker,” she said.

“If there was a tall tree he would be up the top of it.

“He left this world doing what he loved the most.”

Mango Hill man Phillip Walsh is being remembered as an amazing father and friend. Picture: Contributed.

The pair share two boys Koopa, 11 and Oliver who just turned eight last week.

“He was a dedicated father a hard worker and an amazing support to our family,” Ms Walsh said.

“He adored them so much and he was so proud of them.

“My youngest goes in little waves and our eldest Koopa is absolutely devastated.

“I’ve known him for half of my life, I thought that I was going to spend the rest of my life with him in it.”

Phillip also leaves behind his heartbroken mother Kerrie, sister Kim and their wider family.

The beloved plasterer worked for a company on the Gold Coast alongside his uncle, his brother-in-law and cousins.

Running marathons was his passion, something he recently got back into.

Phillip Walsh at the Jetty to Jetty with son Koopa. Picture: Contributed.

The 33-year-old had taken part in everything from the 96km Kokoda GC challenge to park runs, even joining a running group in Beerwah.

“He liked to do all the trails and the mountains (on the Sunshine Coast), it’s something that we used to do quite regularly as a family as well,” Ms Walsh said.

The mother-of-two recalled the moment when they first found out they were expecting a child.

“It was really scary because we were both really young, I was only 20 and he was 21,” she said.

“Once we got our heads around it he was very excited to become a dad.

“He was an amazing father, he was very kind, encouraging, extremely supportive of the boys and myself as well.

“He was very hands on, he wanted to show them everything, teach them.”

Phillip and Emma Walsh. Picture: Contributed.

Ms Walsh was also eager to pay tribute to those who took the time to search for the beloved dad.

“On Tuesday, there was hope that he was just hurt,” she explained.

“It’s been a lot for everybody, we had about 20 family and friends out there, strangers as well that just came to help.

“Everybody did everything they possibly could to help us and they still are.

“It gave us closure because we’ve just all been worried and now we know and he’s off the mountain.”

Emma, Koopa, Phillip and Oliver Walsh. Picture: Contributed.

Ms Walsh said she was eternally grateful to the local climbers who spent hours searching including the Queensland Remote Area Tracking group.

“I can’t thank Jack Barden, James Taylor, Dave Taylor and Jarad Bliesner enough as well as Jason Cantel and the QRAT team that helped with recovery,” she said.

“I’m also so grateful to my father, Peter Wade, who went above and beyond finding the crew and assisting in the search efforts.

“It’s thanks to them that we got to leave Mount Beerwah on Wednesday with an answer.

“Phillip will be missed immensely by everyone whose lives that he touched.

“The kind words, support and tributes to him have been so wonderful to see and our boys and family will be forever humbled.”

A spokesman from the Queensland Police Service confirmed that his death was not being considered suspicious.

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