Father promises to build new life with daughter after river tragedy

The heartbroken husband of a woman who died in a desperate bid to save their children from floodwaters on the NSW north coast two years ago has promised his only surviving daughter they’ll make a new life together.

• Inquest hears drones should be used to check road safety
• Inquest hears mum drowned trying to save kids

The heartbroken husband of a woman who died trying to save their children from floodwaters two years ago has promised his only surviving daughter they’ll make a new life together.

Stephanie King, 43, and two of her three children, Ella-Jane, 11, and Jacob, 7, died when their van skidded off a muddy road and plunged into the flood-swollen Tweed River at Tumbulgum on the north coast on April 3, 2017.

Byron Bay Court heard Ms King sacrificed her own life to save then nine-year-old Chloe-May before drowning with her two other children.

Matt Kabealo has vowed to make a new life with his daughter. Picture: Danielle Smith

Stephanie King died when her car was washed away in flood waters. Two of her children were also killed.

11-year-old Ella-Jane and 7-year-old Jacob died, while sister Chloe, 8, survived the tragedy.

MORE NEWS

“I will never get over this, but I will try my hardest to get on with it, for the sake of my beautiful daughter,” Matt Kabealo wrote in a moving statement for an inquest into their deaths.

An emotional Detective Senior Constable Scott Wilcox read the family statement adding Mr Kabealo wanted to make abundantly clear: “They consider themselves survivors and that’s how they intend to live.”

Mr Kabealo wiped his eyes and many others cried as the court heard how his “world collapsed”.

Matt Kabealo said the pain of the deaths of his wife and two of his children was “crippling”. Picture: Scoot Davis

“The hurt I feel every day is crippling,” he wrote.

The court previously heard Chloe-May swam to shore and raised the alarm but frantic rescuers who dived into the fast flowing water were unable to save her mum and siblings.

The youngster’s bravery was commended at the inquest.

“She showed resilience, strength and determination above her age,” Mr Kabealo wrote.

“Like mother like daughter.”

Mr Kabealo remembered his wife as an amazing person who “celebrated every day.”

“Steph was a hero and my best friend and will always be remembered as the life of the party,” he said.

Stephanie King’s van skidded off a muddy road and plunged into the flood-swollen Tweed River. Picture: Glenn Hampson

First born daughter Ella-Jane was a talented academic “wise beyond her years” who loved to read books. Mr Kabealo said while they didn’t have his only son Jacob for long, “he completed our family perfectly”.

Mr Kabealo apologised to Chloe-May for having to grow up to too quickly, adding: “I can never give her a mother’s love.”

“Our home life has changed but together we will make a new life,” he said. “You are truly my rock.”

Stephanie King with daughter Ella-Jane.

Jacob Kabealo died in the tragedy.

The inquest heard the road the family was driving on remained open despite significant risks.

“It’s abundantly clear that Tweed Shire Council was significantly underprepared and under resourced and therefore unable to adequately deal with road closures,” Counsel assisting the coroner Dr Peggy Dwyer said.

Council Storm Water Manager Danny Mathew Rose said Dulguigan Road wasn’t officially closed even when inundated with water the day before the accident, and admitted it should have been.