Man who drowned in Colo River remembered as loving father and husband

The man who tragically drowned in the Colo River in regional NSW has been remembered as a ‘selfless and caring’ father by close friends.

The man who tragically drowned in the Colo River at the weekend has been remembered as a “selfless and caring” father by his family and friends.

Ondrej Ivanic was floating down the river on a lilo with friends on Saturday afternoon when tragedy struck.

The 41-year-old disappeared underwater when his inflatable lilo became wedged on a large submerged rock about 1pm that day.

Paramedics were winched into the location near Grassy Hill Trail at Colo Heights but were not able to recover Mr Ivanic’s body until Sunday morning.

He leaves behind his wife Katka and children Martin, 6, and Emma, 3.

A GoFundMe has since been set up by Mr Ivanic’s close friends and has raised more than $9000 in the past 24 hours.

Organisers Tomas Dermisek and Katarina Magova said they set the fundraiser up to ease the burden and stress for Mr Ivanic’s family and allow them to start “a new chapter in their lives.

They describe Mr Ivanic as a loving father who was full of life.

“Ondrej was a selfless, caring and intelligent human being with an adventurous spirit,” the GoFundMe reads.

“He was a great friend, a loving father and husband and respected in his profession.

“He has a left a void which simply can never be filled.

“We would like … to help his children to set up for future without a father and to give them more time and space to grieve their profound loss.”

A Facebook user posted a tribute on a page dedicated to Slovaks and Czechs in Australia, remembering the NSW father as a loving and kind man.

“Ondrej was a young, friendly, cheerful man and a good Daddy. I remember when you flew to Sydney a few years ago. Nice memories,” the post, translated from Slovak to English, reads.

A report into Mr Ivanic’s death will be prepared for the coroner.