'He did so much' : Grief over death of Burleigh barber Joe Tongi following beach accident

A WAVE of grief has hit a tight- knit Gold Coast community following the death of a popular local  barber and all round 'good bloke', nearly a month after he was injured in the surf at Burleigh Heads.

A WAVE of grief has hit a tight- knit Gold Coast  community following the death of barber Joe Tongi, nearly a month after he was injured in the surf at Burleigh Heads.

The family man, known for his infectious personality, positivity and passion for helping others passed in hospital peacefully on Friday night surrounded by his friends and family.

He had been in hospital for some time following a critical injury to his spine in the surf off Burleigh in mid November where he swam daily for the past ten years.

The news of the accident prompted dozens of fundraisers for his loving family, which includes his three children Trent, Petu, Mihi Dawn Moana and his wife Ebonny.

Mr Tongi was prominent for his work with young disenfranchised youth teaching them barber skills at Burleigh Barber Co where he worked.

Gold Coast barber Joe Tongi who worked at Burleigh Barber Co will be remembered for his love of nature, his family and the Burleigh community.

When speaking to the Bulletin just hours before the accident,  Mr Tongi, said he believed everyone needed a chance to learn how to communicate with each other and thrive in life.

“I just want to create a space where people can talk and share their stories and learn to listen,” he said at the time.

“I don’t know much but what I do know I want to share with the next generation.”

Family friend Joley Davie said Joe and his wife Ebonny who were regulars at the World Gym where she works are special people, and the loss of Joe would ripple throughout the Gold Coast.

“He was just one of those people who was never afraid to speak out of talk up what he believed in,” Ms Davie said.

“He was big on respect and manners, he was kind gentle and strong.

“He loved the sea and nature and his kids more than anything.

“The number of people he impacted in his life would be countless, he worked so hard mentoring students, not just how to cut hair but how to be a good person.

“He did so much.”

The gym went ahead with plans to hold a fundraiser ride for the family today.

“It will be hard, but Joe has given so much to the community, we are all devastated and just want to give back to him and make sure his family will be looked after.”

Online Burleigh Barber Co. posted a touching video tribute about their workmate.

“Rest in love my bro gonna miss you” was the simple message that accompanied the black and white film.

Burleigh identity Rhys Horne also shared his grief online along with hundreds of other mourners.

“We met 10 years ago and what a 10 years it’s been. I lay here thinking of all the hard case times our whanau’s have had, stories we’ve shared, memories I will hold closer now than ever imagined,” Mr Horne wrote.

“The amount of people’s hearts you’ve touched and the mana that you hold in the community bro will live on. Rest easy and know how much aroha surrounds the whanau during this time, and forever.

“Seeing you taking the students of our kura under your wings this year was something special bro and you can’t teach that stuff … because it was real, it was from your heart. The life experiences that you shared with them and the skills you equipped them with, they will hold onto for life.” 

EARLIER( NOV 25): He is fighting for his life’: Family of Burleigh personality Joe Tongi thank ‘beautiful’ community

THE heartbroken wife of smiling Burleigh identity Joe Tongi said her husband is ‘still fighting for his life’ following a critical neck injury he sustained in the surf over two weeks ago.

In New Zealand with her family at the time of the injury Ebonny Tongi and two of the couple’s three children Petu, Mihi Dawn Moana flew home to be by his side.

They remain in quarantine in Brisbane, allowed intermittently to visit their father in hospital daily.

Now the family wants to thank the community who have rallied around the popular local barber and his recovery.

“It is a beautiful community,” Mrs Tongi said.

“This is our home and a place that was always our dream to find, we wrote down what we wanted our future and our life to be twenty years ago.

“It was to find a village to be able to ride to school, walk to work, and find somewhere we could really dig our heels into and Burleigh has wrapped us up in a whole lot of love.

“And we have wrapped Burleigh up in a whole lot of love in return.

“They are going nuts for us to help, it is so special, we are so thankful.”

BURLEIGH BARBER TREATED IN HOSPITAL FOR SPINAL INJURY

Burleigh man Joe Tongi who was injured in the surf, pictured with his wife Ebonny and their three children.

Mrs Tongi said she had returned to the country as soon as she was told about the accident.

“When COVID hit us, not being an Australian citizens and the barbershop not being able to have haircuts we decided that I and two kids would go back to New Zealand to wait it out.”

Their eldest Trent stayed on the Gold Coast for work.

“I was there for study and self healing and Joe supported me all the way through.

“I came back to him too late,” she said.

“His flatmate and good friend was there when I couldn’t be. I want to thank her for that.”

A strong Tongan man of faith, Mrs Tongi said her husband was at the beach every day.

“Water is his church, every morning he would go down for sunrise,” she said.

“That was our thing sunrise.

“He would go down at sunrise and get on his board and sing Tongan hymns that was his church out on the water.

He would send his family videos, daily sunrise videos of him and little scriptures.

“He lived everything really large and really big.

“He is fighting, that's what we want people to know.”

>>>WANT TO HELP JOE? CLICK HERE

Popular Gold Coast barber Joe Tongi remains in hospital.

A GoFundMe page organised to help the family has reached $22,000 thanks to local donations.

The gym where he worked out every morning with his wife, World Gym in Burleigh will also be hosting a fundraiser - Ride for Joe.

Trainer Joely Davie was in tears when talking about the impact Mr Tongi’s injury has had on the community.

“He is the life and soul of the place,” she said.

Joe Tongi ' The Godbarber '. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

“You would see him in the back of the cycle class yelling come on, helping people, just lifting spirits.

“Everything he does he brings energy to so we want to give back and help him and his beautiful family.

FULL DIGITAL ACCESS: JUST $1 A WEEK FOR FIRST 12 WEEKS

“The energy between he and Ebonny is always electric, we just want him back on the Coast.

“We want to send healing vibes to him in hospital and help out in any way that we can to help with his long road to recovery and rehab.

The cycle will be held on Sunday December 6 at 3pm. Participants must book a bike.

Originally published as 'He did so much' : Grief over death of Burleigh barber Joe Tongi following beach accident