Gorokan: Expectant dad Connor Rissel, 29, died after short illness, fundraiser launched

A young bride expecting her first child is in mourning — while a community is reeling — after a much loved young man inexplicably died in his sleep following a short illness.

Connor Rissel, 29, and his wife Shannen Rissel. Conner became ill and then died unexpectedly in his sleep with a GoFundMe fundraiser launched to help Shannen who is pregnant with the couple's first child. Picture: Facebook/Shannen Rissel

A young man, who celebrated his marriage last year and was looking forward to the birth of his first child, has inexplicably died after a short illness before his 30th birthday, leaving family and friends shocked.

Connor Rissel, of Gorokan, told his wife Shannen he would be “okay” and they would have a “happy life” once he got over what appeared to be a minor illness when he died in his sleep last week.

The 29-year-old’s family and friends have expressed their complete shock and dismay at the “devastating loss”.

Family friend Kirsty Watson has launched a GoFundMe page, which started out with a goal of raising $35,000 to help Mr Rissel’s young wife pay for his funeral and set her and the couple’s child, due in August, up for a life without him.

But within days the goal has been revised up to $40,000 after donations quickly surpassed $35,000.

The couple were only married in September last year. Picture: Facebook/Shannen Rissel

“Connor would have had his 30th birthday this year, he would have become a father for the first time and he would have celebrated a first year of marriage,” Ms Watson wrote in the online fundraiser.

“It’s so hard to comprehend why this has happened, as it happened so suddenly and has come as a huge shock to all that knew him.”

They were expecting their first child in August. Picture: Facebook/Shannen Rissel

Mr Rissel’s wife Shannen has thanked the general public for the outpouring of support as she struggles to come to terms with the loss of “the love of my life” and “best friend”.

“I am so overwhelmed and appreciative of all the love and support everyone has shown towards Connor, (our) baby, our family, and myself over the past days,” she posted on Facebook.

“Thank you so much for your messages, calls, food, beautiful flowers, the GoFundMe page.

“I can’t begin to tell you how overwhelmingly special it is to know just how much you care and just how much he was loved by so many.

“From the bottom of my heart I’ll never be able to tell you how grateful I am.”

Mrs Rissel said her husband loved surfing, the beach, “coffee and a choccie” and being creative with his art and music.

“Connor’s death was unexpected,” she wrote.

“He had become unwell, and unfortunately, his health declined over the past week.

“However, never did we expect this to happen. Some of his last words to me were ‘I’ll be okay beet, I just need to get over this sickness and we’ll have a happy life’.

“I am so lost in how this is real and how this happened. I won’t have an explanation until the results of his autopsy, which may not be for some time.”

Mrs Rissel has also asked for some time and space to grieve and “process what has happened”.

It comes as a paddle out has been organised in tribute to Mr Rissel on Sunday at 8am from the Norah Head Rockpool.