Mum and dairy farmer Maridel De Ocampo dies in hospital after ute rear ends her car in Maffra

A young girl has tragically lost her mum — having also lost her father just seven years ago — in a car crash in Gippsland.

Mum and dairy farmer Maridel De Ocampo died in hospital from her injuries after she was rear-ended by a ute on the Stratford-Maffra Rd in Maffra on Thursday, February 20. Picture: gofundme

A young Filipino girl who lost her dad several years ago has been dealt another heartbreaking blow after her mum — who was working in Australia — died in hospital after a car crash in Gippsland.

Maridel De Ocampo, who worked as a dairy farmer in central Gippsland, was travelling on Stratford-Maffra Rd at Maffra when her Toyota Corolla was rear-ended by a ute on February 20, just metres away from the farm she worked on.

The 37-year-old was flown to The Alfred with life-threatening injuries but was unable to be saved.

The driver of the ute, a 35-year-old Stratford man, stopped at the scene, was taken to hospital and has since been released pending further inquiries while police continue to investigate the cause of the crash.

In 2022, Maridel moved to Australia from the Philippines and studied at the Australian College of Agriculture & Horticulture in Cairns.

After graduating, she moved down to Gippsland in Victoria and lived with her friend Mark John Bitancur in Maffra.

Madel moved to Australia and worked as a dairy farmer in Gippsland to support her daughter Zamira back in the Philippines. Picture: GoFundMe

Mr Bitancur said Maridel — known as Madel — had hopes of building a better life for herself and her nine-year-old daughter Zamira, who lost her dad in a motorbike crash seven years ago.

Madel arrived on a student visa and became a sponsored worker, with her goal to bring Zamira to Australia to live with her.

Mr Bitancur said Madel was both the mother and father figure in her daughter’s life, and it was a tough decision for her to leave Zamira.

Madel, who was granted a “skills in demand” visa last year, had planned to return to the Philippines in May for a holiday.

Madel had to be both the mother and father figure in her daughter’s life after her dad died in a motorbike crash seven years ago. Picture: GoFundMe

“I have known Madel since 2022 — she’s very supportive — we always go to different parts here in Gippsland, we like to drive a car and roam around,” Mr Bitancur said.

“She’s a very good friend.”

Madel and her daughter Zamira would FaceTime each other while Madel was living in Australia. Picture: GoFundMe

Mr Bitancur said Zamira was being cared for by Madel’s older sister

He has created a GoFundMe page to help bring Madel’s body back home, raising almost $32,000 in just four days.

“Madel has no family here in Australia. Our deepest wish is to bring her home to the Philippines so she can be laid to rest surrounded by her loved ones,” Mr Bitancur wrote.

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“We are reaching out with heavy hearts, asking for your kindness and generosity.

“Any support, big or small, will help give Madel the farewell she deserves and provide some comfort to the little girl she leaves behind.”