Toddler found alive in Coolangatta unit where body of adult male discovered

A man whose young child spent up to four days in a Gold Coast apartment with his lifeless body was a refugee trying to start a better life in Australia and had been interviewed about his struggles with the housing crisis.

Hasel Liu had complained of being unwell and had not been seen since Tuesday. Picture: ABC

A man whose young daughter spent up to four days in a Gold Coast apartment with his lifeless body after his sudden death was a refugee trying to start a better life in Australia.

Hasel Liu, 31, was found dead inside the Coolangatta apartment he shared with his two-year-old daughter on Friday morning after a relative called authorities when she could not contact him for several days.

The Iraqi national had moved to Australia in search of a new beginning but was caught in the housing crisis, spending time living in a car with his daughter near The Spit on the northern Gold Coast last year before a charity service arranged for them to stay in a hotel.

Hasel Liu was found deceased at his Stapylton Street apartment. Picture: Richard Gosling

Eventually he was able to find more permanent accommodation, moving into the Coolangatta apartment.

It is understood he had separated from his former partner and mother of his child, and he was the primary carer.

On Good Friday the apartment was swarming with paramedics and police forensic personnel.

On Saturday, the empty apartment sat as a heartbreaking homage to Mr Liu’s life.

While sparsely furnished, the modest home had children’s toys scattered around the doorway and the television continued to blare out shows from the ABC Kids channel.

A present of Easter chocolates and toys had been left at the door by well-meaning friends oblivious to Mr Liu’s tragic fate.

A handwritten sign left outside the unit where Hasel Liu was found. Picture: Richard Gosling

The Sunday Mail has learned Mr Liu had complained of feeling unwell recently and had not been heard from since Tuesday.

The alarm was raised on Good Friday.

The young girl, who was taken to Tweed Heads Hospital for observation, has been reunited with her mother. On Saturday, the Coolangatta unit block featured a bunch of flowers and a message in tribute to Mr Liu: “Fly high Hasal, you will be missed.”

A neighbour who did not wish to be named said Mr Liu was “a lovely, lovely man” who had lived in the apartment complex for a few months.

Flowers left outside the unit complex. Picture: Richard Gosling

“He loved it here,” the neighbour said.

“And he loved his daughter.

“She was the most important thing in his world.

“They didn’t have much, but they had each other and the mother would come to visit.

“He was very proud of the place here, he was always outside keeping the garden neat and tidy.”

The neighbour said they had last spoken to Mr Liu on Tuesday morning and he had complained that he was not feeling well.

Attention has turned to the young girl, who was taken from the property suffering dehydration after her lengthy ordeal but was otherwise unhurt.

Mr Liu’s former partner had reportedly last heard from him on Monday.

Last year, Mr Liu was interviewed by the ABC as part of a feature on the housing crisis.

“It’s scary sometimes,” he told the broadcaster.

“Because you don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow or the day after.”

After bouncing from living in a car, to a hotel and then homeless shelters, Mr Liu’s luck finally turned when he was able to secure the Coolangatta apartment late last year. Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

Originally published as Toddler found alive in Coolangatta unit where body of adult male discovered