Tributes flow for young Mudgeeraba dad killed in Worongary crash
A young dad who died in a Gold Coast Hinterland crash has been remembered by family and friends as ‘lovely’ and ‘sweet’. Read the tributes.
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A young dad who died in a car crash on the Gold Coast has been remembered by family and friends as “lovely”, “sweet” and a talented former rugby and touch football player.
Tributes have poured in for Mudgeeraba man Keanu Lakay, 30, who died in a single-car crash at Worongary around 8.30pm Sunday.
The 30-year-old had reportedly driven north in his silver Subaru Forester along The Panorama when his car failed to stop at the Worongary Rd intersection and crashed into a rock wall.
Paramedics rushed to the crash but sadly he died at the scene.
Family and friends took to Facebook to express their grief and shock.
“That smile. My darling boy. You now finally get to meet your big brother and sister in the heavens above,” his mum wrote.
Keanu’s younger sister thanked those who had posted tributes.
“My tears won’t dry up and my heart won’t stop pounding in pain,” she wrote.
“Seeing this post and everyone’s comments and other beautiful posts are really warming my heart.
“Thank you everyone for sharing your love for my now guardian angel big brother Keanu.”
Matty Phillips shared a tribute and photo of his close friend writing that his “heart is broken”.
“One of my oldest friends, one of the OG 4213 boys! I hope you can rest easy now brother,” Mr Phillips wrote.
“I’ll never forget you.”
A former coach shared her memories of Keanu when he was younger.
“This so saddens me. Such a great kid to coach in footy and touch. Such a talent,” she wrote.
“Condolences to his family and all his mates.”
The young dad regularly shared photos of his son and his favourite rappers, Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg, to his social media pages.
He was also passionate about songwriting and performing his own music, sharing his work to a Facebook page called Ritkrew Records.
He sometimes wrote about his mental health struggles and this was mentioned by some friends in their tributes.
“You battled with your mind for the best part of most your life, but it’s this smile I’ll remember you for,” one friend wrote online.
Only a week ago, Keanu took to Instagram with an updated post and videos about returning to the gym for the first time in a year.
“Chase your dreams. Rest is earnt,” he wrote alongside one of his last social media posts.
“Five months ago I began my transformation from 120kg, now weighing 97kg.”
On Monday morning, relatives were seen laying flowers and candles at the scene of the crash.
Police have urged anyone with information or dashcam footage of the crash, or the lead up to it, to contact them on 131 444.
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