Mother of Sydney lawyer Mitch East speaks out after son found dead on Tamarama street

The mother of a young lawyer killed in a suspected hit-and-run in Sydney’s east has spoken of the pain of losing her only child.

Contractors removed the body from the Tamarama street on Sunday. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

A young lawyer killed in a suspected hit-and-run in Sydney’s east has been mourned by his mum as her “reason for living”.

The mother of Mitch East, who flew to Sydney from New Zealand earlier this week after the 28 year-old died on Sunday, spoke publicly for the first time since her only child’s death on Tuesday.

“I died when he died,” Mr East’s mother told NZ publication Stuff.

“The pain is unbearable.”

Lawyer Mitch East who police say died in a suspected hit and run at Tamarama in the early hours of Sunday morning.

She remembered Mr East as a “good person with a good heart”.

A GoFundMe set up to support Mr East’s grieving family has already reached more than $96,000 in donations.

MAN FOUND DEAD ON SYDNEY STREET IDENTIFIED AS YOUNG LAWYER

A police strike force has been launched to investigate the death of a young lawyer killed in a suspected hit-and-run incident in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Mitch East, 28, had just stepped out of an Uber on Fletcher St in Tamarama around 4am on Sunday when police believe he was hit by a car — which subsequently drove off.

CCTV captured what police believe is the moment the white Subaru SUV’s headlights went up and down as the vehicle hit and drove over Mr East’s body on the road.

Colleagues said Mr East was a “highly talented” and “popular” young man.

New Zealand-born Mr East had been living in Australia with his girlfriend since 2022 and was working for major firm Arnold Bloch Leibler, having previously studied on a scholarship at the prestigious Harvard Law School in the United States.

Mr East’s friends and family told of their heartbreak at the death of a man who “had so much left to give”.

“[Mitch] was known and will always be remembered for his hilarious yet kind nature and his incredible ability to befriend everyone he met,” friend Kane Dunkley posted in a GoFundMe, which raised $8,000 in a few hours on Monday.

“At 28 years of age, Mitch’s time was far from up and he had so much life left and love to give.”

Mr East’s colleagues at Arnold Block Leibler provided a statement to The Daily Telegraph telling of their sadness at losing a “highly talented” and “popular” young man.

“In an email sent to all staff this morning, Arnold Bloch Leibler’s Managing Partner Henry Lanzer and Managing Sydney Partner Paul Rubenstein paid tribute to Mitch, describing him as a highly talented lawyer and popular and valued member of the firm, whose loss will be deeply felt,” the statement read.

“The partners expressed heartfelt condolences to Mitch’s parents, his partner and many close friends, both within and outside of Arnold Bloch Leibler.”

Police are now desperately hunting for a white SUV that was captured on CCTV in the Fletcher St area around the time Mr East was found unconscious by passers by.

Strike Force Dunguid was announced on Monday, with officers from the Crash Investigation Unit to lead the hunt for answers and those responsible for Mr East’s death.

“Metropolitan Crash Investigators have established Strike Force Dunguid to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a man in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs,” a police statement read.

“Specialist officers from the Crash Investigation Unit (CIU) were called in and have now taken over the inquiry.”

Police at the crime scene on Sunday. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

It is understood Mr East’s relatives were in town and were notified of his death at Bondi Police Station on Sunday, with Detective Assistant Superintendent Adam Solah saying they were “distraught” at the tragedy.

“The family are obviously very upset and distraught, and our hearts go out to them, having to find out such difficult news,” he said.

Police have obtained “extensive” footage from the scene but could not yet confirm whether the death was a hit-and-run; a theory that is “forming part of our lines of inquiry” while police are “looking at all avenues”, Det Solah said.

“We encourage anyone who has dashcam footage or … CCTV that hasn’t been yet provided to police, we urge you to come forward and provide that footage.”

Mr East was wearing a blue button-up shirt and tan shorts at the time he was killed.

Anyone who may have seen the man described by police, or was any way involved in the incident, is also urged to contact Bondi police or Crimestoppers.

Police and paramedics were called to Fletcher Street in Tamarama shortly after 4am to find the man critically injured with head injuries.

Despite attempts to resuscitate the man, he died at the scene.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Email [e-mail]