Jay Horne details journey to get partner Aaron Coshaw to Cairns from Zambia after shock death
A Cairns man whose partner died suddenly while on holiday in Africa has shared details of his heartbreaking three-week battle to bring his body home.
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A Cairns man whose partner died suddenly while on the trip of a lifetime in Africa has shared the heartbreaking details of his three-week battle to bring his body home.
Jay Horne was with his partner, Aaron Coshaw, 49 when he died while on holiday in Zambia on September 14.
But for the past three weeks, there has been only one thing on Mr Horne’s mind.
“For the last three weeks I had to maintain a level of coherency in everything I was doing because I was fighting so hard to get Aaron home,” he said.
“I made a decision the day Aaron died, I was not leaving until we got him home.
“This man deserves to be laid to rest. Aaron always said his final resting place was to be Cairns. So I thought I’ve got to get him to Cairns.”
After three weeks Mr Coshaw was finally reunited with his family but Mr Horne wasn’t able to be with him because of flight availability.
“I will be home on Monday. We were unable to get on the same flight which was very sad because that was my hope,” he said.
“Now he’s home and I’m on the other side of the world.
“I was in shock, then I was running on adrenaline, now he’s gone, I am dealing now with the emotions of him dying which I couldn’t do before.
“Everything I did, was a constant battle and if there was any weakness from me, it felt like I was being weak I would lose focus about him being home.”
As harrowing as the experience was, it’s taught Mr Horne something about himself.
“I am stronger than I thought I was,” he said.
But from the get go it wasn’t easy — there were issues.
“Aaron died on the Tuesday, by Friday I didn’t have a death certificate, I tried to get it but I had to give a bribe,” he said.
“On the Monday I was still chasing them, it’s all to do with how it’s run.”
Mr Horne said he was still coming to terms with the suddenness of Mr Coshaw’s death.
“He had wanted to go to Victoria Falls since he was 17 years old and he died when he was 49,” he said.
“We were looking at some monkeys and within two minutes Aaron was dead.
“It was absolutely crazy. There were no sore arms, he was hot, we were all hot, there was no sign of chest pain.
“It was very sudden and very horrifically devastating.”
But he can still feel his partner with him.
“He was an exceptional human being, his outlook on life was always positive,” he said.
“He was a true believer on not being able to change things that had already happened. If something is beyond control.
“Every time I get upset it’s almost like he’s sitting on my shoulder and he’s saying ‘OK you’ve got to take the next step’.”
Mr Coshaw was the mind behind boutique creative design studio Cre8 and his work has left an indelible mark on Cairns.
“Everywhere in Cairns you look there is a piece of Aaron, he was literally a creative genius,” he said.
“When he loved, he loved wholeheartedly. I have no doubt he loved me with all his heart.
“I love Aaron with all of my heart. I still do and I think I will forever.”
News of Mr Coshaw’s death was met with shock and disbelief, and a rally of support.
“One of the things I do want people to know, Aaron would never have an expectation that anybody would do anything like this,” he said.
“It’s nice that everybody is doing what they are doing, like a tribute event and a GoFundMe page.
“He would never expect that but I know he would definitely appreciate it.”
A GoFundMe page was created by his friend Zora Regulic to bring back Mr Coshaw to Australia and for the funeral.
Any extra money would be donated to the Cardiac Centre at Cairns Hospital.
Out! Cairns are hosting a party at Miss Chief on Friday with all profits going towards Mr Coshaw’s flights and funeral.
Event organiser Ben Woodward said the community wanted to help support Mr Horne.
“As we know Aaron was a very talented graphic designer and very community-minded. He did a lot of behind-the-scenes work for Cairns,” he said.
“Aaron was very generous in the work he did for us, it really did elevate the promotion of our events to another level.”
Mr Woodward said it wasn’t just an event for people who knew Mr Coshaw personally.
“We really are viewing it a celebration of his life,” he said.
The official service and wake are in the final stages of preparation.
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