Northern beaches triple tragedy: funeral for Bells Line Of Rd car crash victim Ben Sawyer

BEN Sawyer’s brother Matt spoke movingly to a packed congregation after the teenager’s death in a car crash on Bells Line Of Rd in the Blue Mountains last Sunday.

Funeral of Ben Sawyer held at St Mary's Catholic Church in Manly. Ben along with mates Lachlan Burleigh and Luke Shanahan, were killed in a car crash on Bells Line Of Road between Bilpin and Kurmond last weekend. Family and friends arrive for the service. Picture: Toby Zerna

BEN Sawyer’s elder brother Matt spoke movingly of the teenager’s smile and kind nature to a packed congregation as his funeral in Manly this afternoon.

Friends and family of Ben, 19, of Freshwater, were invited to attend at St Mary’s Catholic Church, the first of the funerals for the three young men killed in a car crash on Sunday.

”You are able to bring smiles to so many people in my short 19 years with you,” Matt told mourners.

“Words cannot comprehend Ben as a person. He would always bring a smile to your face.”

Premier Mike Baird arrive at the service. Picture: Toby Zerna

Mourners outside the church. Picture: Toby Zerna

The funeral was held at St Mary's Catholic Church. Picture: Toby Zerna

Blue Mountains car crash victim, Ben. Picture: Facebook

Ben’s friend Glenn Myers delivered a eulogy on behalf of Ben’s father Tom, saying:

“The connection between Ben and his brothers was extremely strong. Ben idolised his brothers.

“Wherever Nathan and Matt would go, Ben would follow. You never seen such love between brothers.”

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Mr Myers referred to Ben’s ambition to be a social worker and on behalf of dad Tom said: “I believed he would have excelled due to his kind and caring personality.”

Father Senan Ward who conducted the service said “Ben was clearly held in high esteem to have hundreds of you here with his family.”

Other friends also took it in turns to share their memories of their mate, nicknamed Nugsy – a name he was given for his love, passion and perfect physique for rugby.

Tom Leach, referring to the death of Ben’s older brother Nathan in 2010, said his friend took “one of the hardest knocks life can give you and he rose above it”.

Ben pictured with a friend in the Order.

The Order of Service.

Nic Dobrijevich spoke about eating hamburgers with his friend who would often ask :”Are you going to finish that?”

His mother Georgina told the Manly Daily the accident was an “absolute tragedy” but the service would be a celebration of her son’s life.

His death is a terrible blow for Mrs Sawyer and husband Thomas, coming after the death of their eldest son Nathan in 2010, at the age of 17.

A death notice in the Manly Daily on Thursday said friends and family of Ben Sawyer were “warmly invited” and that the service would be a celebration of Ben’s life “where no minute was without fun”.

Father Ward said Ben was now “walking with Nathan”, referring to his brother that died five years ago. Picture: Toby Zerna

Mr Sawyer, Lachlan Burleigh, 17, and Luke Shanahan, 21, both from Warriewood, were passengers in a car that collided with a sedan.

The accident occurred at 3.30pm on Sunday on the Bells Line Of Rd between Bilpin and Kurmond.

The driver and front seat passenger, also from Freshwater, survived the crash, as did a couple in their 80s in a Subaru.

A MyCause tribute donation fund has been set up for Ben.

To donate, go to www.mycause.com.au/page/110262/our-boys-support-fund