Neale Daniher inspired beautiful last chat between dad and son Jordan Purcell before fatal Alexandra hit-run crash
The father of a young footballer tragically struck by a car believed to have been driven by one of his teammates told his son he loved him during a heartwarming chat he “will never forget” inspired by the rousing words of Neale Daniher.
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The father of a young footballer killed in a hit run at Alexandra says a stirring speech from Neale Daniher inspired him to strike up a heartfelt conversation with his son — just hours before his death.
Michael Purcell said it was Daniher’s recent message to Melbourne Football Club that prompted the chat following his son’s powerhouse performance during a match on Saturday.
Jordan Purcell, 20, died early the next morning after he was struck by a vehicle believed to have been driven by one of his teammates.
“Our final conversation is something I will never forget,” Mr Purcell said. “Jordy played reserves and he’d had a good game, he was all over the field.
“I had the best 10 minutes with him afterwards.
“I took the opportunity to have a conversation. We talked about a few things. I hugged him and told him I loved him.
“I just didn’t know he’d be dead three hours later.”
Mr Purcell said his son was passionate about his local footy, cricket and his mates, was not without his flaws but appeared to be on the right path.
“He was a spirited young man and in recent months has started to understand the importance of boundaries,” he said.
Major collision investigators were still in Alexandra yesterday piecing together the circumstances leading up to the incident.
Detective Sergeant Daryll Out from the Major Collisions Investigation Unit said it was hoped autopsy findings would help shed light on exactly what happened.
He said there was no evidence to suggest the man was already laying on the roadside when he was hit.
“The injuries he sustained seem to be consistent with him being upright and walking when the incident occurred,” he said.
He said contact between the victim and the vehicle appeared to have been light, with the fatal injury likely cause as a result of the subsequent fall.
The driver and passengers in the car were interviewed by police but no charges have been laid.
Mr Purcell was found by paramedics lying on the road on Hall Street with life-threatening injuries.
They worked to save him but he died on the way to hospital about 12.15am.
The alleged driver of the car — a 23-year-old man believed to be one of his teammates — was interviewed by police on Sunday and released pending further inquiries.
Police have not yet ruled out if alcohol or drugs were a factor.
Mr Purcell said exactly what happened was not yet clear but said he was not angry at the driver.
“We went to a couple of the households of the kids who were in the car.
“Obviously the investigation is ongoing … but we don’t want anger to come into this.
“There is nothing productive to come of that.
“I feel for the driver. Bearing in mind it’s early days and I haven’t been told categorically what occurred.”
Yesterday flowers and a card with the words “Fly High Jordy” were left at the scene today and the tight-knit town attempted to come to grips with the tragedy.
Local resident Ernie Hunt, 80, revealed his heartbreak at unknowingly leaving the young footballer to die on the roadside.
Mr Hunt said he heard a vehicle and a “thump” from inside his house but decided not to investigate.
“I think of that poor boy laying there and that maybe if I had have gone outside I could have called an ambulance,” Mr Hunt said.
“I didn’t even know him but to see those flowers today and know that I could have helped.
“It’s upsetting.”
Counselling has been arranged but the club for its reserves and senior squad.
Alexander Rebels president Ray Steyger said players had been profoundly affected.
“From the club’s point of view, a number of families are directly involved in the incident and it makes it tough for everybody,” Mr Steyger said.
“But we are a country community that will rally and we will get through this together.”
A 20-year-old Alexandra man presented himself to police a short time after the incident and was also released late yesterday.
Police said he was being treated as a witness.
Mr Purcell’s death has left the community in shock.
One Alexandra Rebels club member, who asked not to be named, said Mr Purcell was a “popular figure at the club and had lots of mates”.
“He was so young, to think he had the world at his feet and now his parents are having to bury him, no family should have to go through that,” the man said.
“It’s horrific.”
Mr Purcell had lived for multiple years in Alexandra but his family recently relocated to Mt Duneed, near Geelong.
A Toyota Hilux, believed to have been involved in the incident, was being examined on Sunday by forensics detectives as part of the investigation.
Detective Sergeant Daryll Out from the Major Collisions Investigation Unit said the victim’s family was devastated.
“They are distraught, they’re very, very upset as you’d naturally expect,” Det-Sgt Out said.
“Small towns in particular it has a greater ripple effect.
“It affects the community a lot faster, because a lot of people are known to one another.”
Police said he had been walking up Hall St near Alexandra Secondary College.
“A witness found him lying on the road,” Det-Sgt Out said.
“They were very upset, but they contacted Ambulance Victoria straight away.”
Detective Sergeant Out said he was still surprised that people leave the scene of serious crashes.
“I can’t understand why people don’t stop to help,” Det-Sgt Out said.
“People panic and there may be other reasons why they don’t stay at the scene or stop to help.
“It surprises me every time people don’t stop to help somebody else.”
A Hall St resident, who asked not to be named, said he heard the incident.
“I heard some noise after midnight, screeching tyres, now there’s someone dead,” the resident said.
“I assumed it was normal hoon behaviour, idiots tearing up and down the street.
“It is another absolute tragedy but it is not unexpected with the way hoon behaviour goes on in small country towns.”
Fredericka Marr also lives in Hall St, about 200m from the scene of the accident but did not hear anything last night.
“It was quite foggy here last night,” she said.
“Any accident is sad.”
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Ms Marr said the speed limit down the street was 40km/h.
“You do hear a lot of cars, you know they are going faster than they are supposed to,” she said.
“We do have quite a good police presence in Alexandra, they are always driving up the streets.”
The death takes Victoria’s road toll to 149, compared with 97 this time last year.
Anyone with information is urged to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Originally published as Neale Daniher inspired beautiful last chat between dad and son Jordan Purcell before fatal Alexandra hit-run crash