Grieving father Billy Connell opens up about losing his son Chris

“I put Christopher down on the ground and all of a sudden I looked down and I couldn’t find him.” Grieving father Billy Connell opens up about losing late son Chris. SUBSCRIBE TO SEE ALL THE PHOTOS

BILLY Connell lives each day knowing his late son Chris will be at the forefront of his mind and is starting to come to terms with the fact his dreams also centre around his loss.

As if losing Connell at the age of 43 on July 2 last year wasn’t hard enough, having Chris disappear from his life as a small child was something he had to deal with through the night in some vivid dreams.

“I have nights where I can’t sleep or have these dreams,” Billy Connell said.

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“I can handle it but they do happen. It’s going to happen for the rest of my life.

“I’d rather talk about him. One of them was quite strange and it was only recently.

“It was when he was about three or four and he and I were out walking.

“Somewhere along the line there were all these blokes on the hill.

Billy Connell (left) with his late son Chris Connell. Picture: Supplied.

“They yelled out ‘Billy, come and have a drink’. I didn’t recognise them but I thought they must know me so I went to have a drink.

“I put Christopher down on the ground and all of a sudden I looked down and I couldn’t find him.

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“I called out, asking where he was and that’s when I wake up.”

Friend and former Surfers Paradise Cricket Club teammates went camping in the Numinbah Valley last weekend to celebrate Chris Connell’s life in ‘Chriso’s Corner’.

Billy, Chris’ mum Jenni and his sister Kirsty spent July 2 sitting by the late family member’s plaque at Allambe Memorial Park in Nerang that brandishes the words “Sadly missed, loved by all”.

Kirsty, mother Jenni Connell and late brother Chris Connell. Picture: Supplied.

“It’s tough. It hasn’t been easy,” Billy Connell said of losing Chris.

“Not a day goes by I don’t think of him. I had a wonderful relationship with my son, as I do with my daughter. He would ring me every day.

“On Tuesday (July 2) Jenni, who brought jam and scones and some tea, Kirsty and I sat around it. It was lovely.

Billy Connell (not pictured) was involved with Australian rules umpiring in the 1970s. Son Chris and daughter Kirsty pictured as mascots in front of some umpires. Picture: Supplied.

“We sat there and a couple of his old work mates turned up with flowers. We were there for about Two-and-a-half hours.

“That is exactly what I had in mind for that place. It’s a spot we could sit down, have a chat and share some memories about him.”

Billy Connell (second from the right) with son Chris Connell in front of him. Picture: Supplied.