‘Absolutely so broken’: Community mourns loss of loved PE teacher

The sudden loss of a kind and genuine Holloways Beach community pillar has devastated friends and family across the nation and around the world.

THE sudden loss of a kind and genuine Holloways Beach community pillar has devastated friends and family across the nation and around the world.

Paramedics rushed to a private residence in Holloways Beach on Sunday morning to attend a “post-immersion incident” but couldn’t save 59-year-old Rocky Chai, who police said died in non-suspicions circumstances at about 10am.

Cairns PE teacher Rocky Chai died on Sunday. He is pictured here with wife Monica. Picture: Supplied

The loss of the English expatriate from Liverpool has shocked heartbroken friends and family who remembered Mr Chai as a selfless gentleman who had touched the lives of so many.

A physical education teacher at Cairns Special State School, Mr Chai was also a swimming instructor at the Tobruk Memorial Pool and a fitness instructor.

LIST OF THOSE WE LOST IN 2021

The mad-keen Liverpool Football Club supporter leaves behind three children and soulmate Monica Chai who has struggled to come to terms with an immense sense of loss.

“We are still all in shock, we are all at a loss and absolutely so broken. He was a fit man it should not have happened,” she said.

Tributes from friends all across the world have poured in following the sudden death of Holloways Beach man Rocky Chai. Supplied

“He was my everything, my best friend, my soulmate. One of those people you don’t come across very often, we were very lucky to have that.

“He was kind, he made us all laugh, he was loving, he would do anything for anyone. He was a once in a lifetime person you don’t come across very often.”

Starting out professionally in the Royal Air Force, Mr Chai immigrated to Australia and settled in Melbourne in 1988. It was in Victoria that Mr Chai met his future wife Monica before making the move north to Cairns in 2019.

Monica and Rocky Chai with children Alvie, Sienna and Sabine. Picture: Supplied

Having a degree in performing arts Mr Chai worked in the film and television industry for a time before jumping career tracks to pursue his passion for sport and fitness.

Ms Chai said her husband just had a knack with people and always went out of his way to include and help people feel welcome.

“He would talk to anyone and was a really genuine guy,” she said.

“When he did his fitness classes he made a point to remember people’s names and he had an amazing memory.

“He was very easy to be with and he had friends from all walks of life, if he saw someone standing on their own he would go and talk to them, he was just a really good person.”

Ms Chai said she had received messages of support from all over the globe expressing their despair and heartbreak at the premature loss of a man widely regarded as a “really good bloke.”

“He was so fit and we had so much of a future to go, it’s just shock,” Ms Chai said.

Queensland Police Service said a report would be prepared for the coroner.

Originally published as ‘Absolutely so broken’: Community mourns loss of loved PE teacher