Kindy kids search the heavens for teacher Paul Lukasiewicz who died after falling off Cape Solander

STUDENTS have been left devastated and searching for the “angel” of their teacher Paul Lukasiewicz who slipped and fell to his death at a popular whale watching spot. It has prompted police to warn sightseers to avoid cliff edges.

FIVE-year-old Riana Mangana was told this week her kindergarten teacher Paul Lukasiewicz has become an angel.

So each morning she has searched the sky for the man who taught her Kindy Wattle class at Belmore Greek Orthodox school All Saints Grammar.

Mr Lukasiewicz, 34, and his boyfriend were taking photos on the edge of a cliff at popular whale watching spot Cape Solander near Kurnell last Saturday, when he slipped and fell to his death.

Paul Lukasiewicz fell to his death after taking photos on a popular cliff near Kurnell. Picture: Supplied

He was found floating facedown in the water and taken to shore by the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter, but could not be revived.

Mr Lukasiewicz had only been working at All Saints Grammar since Term Three last year but had fast become a part of the lives of his young students and their parents.

“Every day since I told Riana that Mr Lukas had an accident and was in heaven with the angels, she’s told me she feels sad,” Riana’s mum Catherine Mangana told The Sunday Telegraph.

“In the morning Riana looks into the sky to find Mr Lukas.”

He slipped and fell off the cliff at Cape Solander. Picture: Damian Shaw

He was unable to be revived. Police spoke to his distraught friends. Picture: Damian Shaw

Mrs Mangana said Kindy Wattle class have been devastated by the loss.

“The kids say their classroom still smells like him and one student told the substitute teacher they were sitting at Mr Lukas’ desk,” she said.

“He always greeted the parents and took the time to tell us about our kids’ day, which goes to show how committed he was, how much he loved those kids and why they adored him in return.”

Police and an ambulance officer talk to two distraught men after the fatal fall. Picture: Damian Shaw

Paul was taking photos with his boyfriend when the accident happened. Picture: Facebook

Originally from Derby in England, Mr Lukasiewicz had a decade of primary teaching experience in Sydney, Bangkok and Singapore.

Friend and former colleague, Amy Sparkes, who worked with Mr Lukasiewicz at Amnuay Silpa School in Thailand, described him as enthusiastic and fun-loving.

“His life was cut tragically short but every day he was out and about, exploring or going on an adventure, so it certainly wasn’t a life half-lived,” she said.

“Paul was somebody who could find the positive in any situation — he was so full of laughter and joy.”

According to Mrs Sparkes, Mr Lukasiewicz would intrigue and delight his young students by dressing in bright outfits with matching ties and watches.

Tourists have been seen getting dangerously close to popular cliff edges across Sydney. Picture: Jenny Evans

Despite the tragedy, and similar accidents, sightseers and tourists were last week still inching dangerously close to the edge of the Bondi to Bronte coastal walk to capture their picture.

They climbed over a protective fence to get closer to the edge and some parents even took their young children.

“Anyone approaching a cliff’s edge needs to exercise serious caution,” Eastern Beaches Local Area Command Inspector Anthony Macklin said.

“Standing at heights without appropriate safety equipment and so close to the cliff’s edge without a barrier is foolhardy.”

A report will be prepared for the coroner.