Jasey Grant’s father Matthew Staples describes the heartbreak of losing his son in a car crash after reuniting with him after a decade

AFTER more than a decade of emptiness, a father shares the joy brought back in to his life after reconnecting with his son before the 15-year-old tragically lost his life in a crash.

Just months earlier Jasey Grant met with his father Matthew Staples for the first time in over a decade. Photo: Supplied

MATTHEW Staples had his best Easter in memory this year.

After more than a decade of emptiness, the Sunshine Coast father says he hit the bullseye doing archery and bowling.

TRIBUTES FLOW FOR PIMPAMA STUDENT KILLED IN CRASH

The reason? His young son had reached out and wanted to reconnect.

“I was absent for 10 years of his life and he had only just reconnected with me a few months ago,” Mr Staples told the Gold Coast Bulletin yesterday.

Next week that forever grateful father will say his final farewell to the boy who breathed new life into those around him.

Jasey Grant facebook

Gold Coast schoolboy Jasey Grant, 15, is expected to be buried next Thursday after tragically losing his life in a car accident at Oxenford.

The Pimpama State College student was pronounced dead at the crash scene on Tamborine Oxenford Rd on Sunday afternoon. He was sitting behind P-plate driver Jordan Martin when their car collided with a ute.

Jasey Grant facebook

Five others escaped uninjured, but Mr Martin remains in hospital in a stable condition. Police are investigating if speed was a factor in the crash.

“He was a very understanding, big-hearted, accepting person,” Mr Staples said of Jasey.

“Within those few months after a quite deep initial meet-up and heart-to-heart conversation, we grew close. I am at least at peace in my mind that he loved and looked up to me and, most of all, called me Dad.”

Mr Staples said he had been left broken by the crash.

“He was a bright, talented young man. I’m blessed and honoured to have known him.”

Jasey Grant 15 with his grandmother Yvette Staples. Photo: Supplied

Jasey’s grandmother, ­Yvette Staples, said the family was still in shock.

“I had other boys away camping when I got the call. I thought it was them, not Jasey.

“He was a sweet, polite teenager. We didn’t have a lot to do with him growing up, but the memories we do have I will hold on to. His dad is devastated. He isn’t OK.”

Mrs Staples did not want to talk about the past and how her side of the family had lost touch with Jasey.

The boy’s mother, Erryn, this week paid tribute to Jasey, saying she “will miss every single little thing about him”.

Jasey Grant with his mother Erryn and also her partner Jim Smith

She last saw him two weeks ago when she dropped him at Sydney Airport bound for the Gold Coast.

She said he had gone back to visit for her birthday.

“It was the best present I could have ever got. He is the reason I live, my best friend and I will miss every single little thing about him,” she said.

Jasey, part of punk band Transistor, moved to Pimpama this year to live with his aunt to start Grade 10 and pursue a ­career in music.

GOFUNDME DETAILS

A FAMILY friend of Jasey Grant is calling for donations to assist with the funeral, raise driver awareness and to start a studio in his honour.

A Gofundme account, established by Erin Murphy, the best friend of Jasey’s mother, has already received close to $2500 in donations.

The fund aims to raise a total of $5000 to assist the family.