Benalla teen Caleb Puttyfoot remembered as a kind person with initiative

A passionate, outgoing Benalla teen who died in hospital after he was hit by a car had the potential to go “very far” in life, a devastated friend says.

Kate Armstrong said Caleb was a shy person, extremely friendly and had so much potential. Picture: Supplied

A Benalla teen who died in hospital after a hit-run collision in the state’s north has been remembered as a shy, friendly person who left an impact on everyone he met.

Caleb Puttyfoot, 16, was hit by a car on Bridge St West in Benalla on August 4 and was flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital with life-threatening injuries, including brain damage.

Nine days later Caleb’s mother Michelle Guppy announced her son had died in a Facebook post.

Caleb was an apprentice painter and panel beater at Dosser Panels in Benalla and had the potential to go “very far”.

One of his colleagues at the business, Kate Armstrong, told the Herald Sun Caleb was passionate about his work.

“I think this industry was the perfect match for him — he had initiative,” Ms Armstrong said.

“He was extremely well-mannered — he was the kind of kid that would sit back, observe and listen.

Caleb Puttyfoot, an apprentice at Dosser Panels in Benalla, brought a smile to everyone's face every time he walked through the door. Picture: Supplied

“When he said something, it was impactful — he was also a really fast learner and a great mate at school and work.

“He was always kind — it’s hard to put into words how to express this.”

Ms Armstrong said the qualities Caleb had would be missed dearly by herself and the boys at work.

She also said the day Caleb was hit marked his first month as an apprentice.

“On the first Friday of each month we do morning tea with the boys and he was quite overwhelmed that he could choose whatever he wanted,” Ms Armstrong said.

“He turned around and looked up at me with his big smile and said ‘thanks heaps Kate’ and that was the last time I spoke with him so that has stuck well with me.

“Every time I walked into the office he was just always very pleasant.”

Family and friends placed flowers on a nature strip near Bridge St West where Caleb was hit after finding out he passed away. Picture: Jayde Ramage / Facebook

Ms Armstrong said was “severely gutted ” when she found out Caleb was hit by a car and rushed to hospital.

“Someone in our group chat said: ‘oh my god we’ve just heard that someone has been hit by a car and they’ve driven off’ — and simultaneously my boss sent me a message saying: ‘have you heard anything about Caleb? I’ve just found out he’s been hit by a car’,” she said.

“He’s gone to his second job after working full time for a week and was on his way home so innocently and it’s just gut-wrenching — I can’t describe it other than that.”

Ms Armstrong said there was hope before learning Caleb had a stroke and died.

“He passed away on the Sunday evening and to come back to work on Monday — it was really hard and you could see the boys were struggling and they went through stages where they were quieter than normal and just trying to process it — it was a huge thing,” she said.

The Benalla community gave their condolences to Caleb's grieving family. Picture: Jayde Ramage / Facebook

Ms Armstrong added Ms Guppy and her family were grateful to the community of Benalla for “wrapping their arms around them”.

“Her tower of strength has just amazed me — it’s the most horrific thing for a parent to go through,” she said.

“There’s an outpour of love, that’s something that’s certainly helped them.

“Everyone is grief-stricken.”

Caleb, one of seven, has been remembered by his family as a “fun-loving goofball”.

The teen will be farewelled at a funeral service in Benalla this week.