Mother of fallen Gold Coast lifesaver Jerry Dennis still waiting for answers

EVERY day Christine Dennis looks at a picture of her son on his mobile phone as it sits recharging. She still does not know how he died eight months ago.

Christine Dennis still does not know how her son Jerry died while training with Northclif

EVERY day Christine Dennis looks at a picture of her son on his mobile phone as it sits recharging in her house.

Nine months after Jerry Dennis came off his paddle board during a training session, the grieving mother is still waiting for answers on how the 17-year-old ironman died.

Until then changing the name of the mobile phone ­account can’t be done, and in the meantime Ms Dennis has had a special tattoo inked on her arm.

She attended the Surf Life Saving Queensland memorial day yesterday to honour those lost in the surf in the last season.

In August last year, Jerry died during a training session in a Mermaid Waters canal.

Jerry Dennis died during a training exercise in a Mermaid Waters canal.

While the exact cause of death still remains unknown, witnesses said he suffered chest pains before the ­incident.

After the ceremony at the Northcliffe Surf Life Saving Club, Ms Dennis told The Bulletin she was still waiting for the final coroner’s report, which she was told would take six months but as yet had not arrived.

“Three weeks after he died the coroners told me their reckoning is it was hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a genetic heart condition, but then I’ve had conflicting stories with that,” she said.

“I don’t know if it’s just that they have a backlog of so many people. Either way, it won’t take the pain away.”

Helen Irvine becomes emotional during a Queensland Surf Lifesavers Memorial Day remembering people who have drowned on Gold Coast beaches in the past year. Pic: David Clark

Ms Dennis said she was unable to cancel things like Jerry’s phone without a death certificate.

“I just recharge it and look at the picture of him on the front of it every day.”

Last Sunday Ms Dennis said she got a tattoo of a man holding a paddle board to remember her son, with the words ‘love you Jerry Dennis’.

“I thought it was simple and it just says the facts, says how I feel without getting too carried away with it, ”she said while fighting back tears.

“I would never have got a tattoo had it never have happened. I think I’m constantly looking to keep a connection with him.”

Northcliffe Club captain Glen Russel and IRB driver Mark Burgess at the memorial day. Pic: David Clark

Ms Dennis said the memorial was important to feel the support from the Northcliffe Surf Life Saving Club, family and friends.

“I know I can always come here and get wonderful support,” she said.

During the ceremony Ms Dennis sat next to Helen ­Irvine, who lost her husband David in December.

“I gave her a little bit of a hug a couple of times today, you can see she’s quite upset,” Ms Dennis said.

Northcliffe Surf Life Saving Club president David Shields said the memorial was pertinent for the club after losing two members.

“It’s good for us to recognise those who’ve lost their lives volunteering for our club, but also recognising others who’ve lost their lives in the water in Queensland.”

Mr Shields said the club had been in a state of grief following Jerry’s death.

“We need to stick together as a group and a club to support each other,’’ he said.