Mount Gambier community fundraises for five-year-old boy’s family after horrific fatal crash

The grief-stricken father of a five-year-old boy killed in a horror crash on the Limestone Coast on Sunday has spoken from his hospital bed.

A five-year-old has died and a 15-year-old is in hospital with life-threatening injuries following the crash. Picture: 7NEWS

A grief-stricken community is wrapping its arms around parents of a young boy killed in a horrific crash, supporting them as they face an unfathomable loss.

The Eykelenburg family were involved in the crash on the Riddoch Highway 5km south of Nangwarry about 2.40pm Sunday.

The Mount Gambier parents Chris and Paula and three of their children – daughters aged 15 and 13, and a son aged six – survived a multi-vehicle crash

Their five-year-old boy tragically died at the scene of the collision.

Their 15-year-old daughter is fighting for life in hospital while their youngest daughter is due for surgery.

Grieving father Chris Eykelenburg, 42, told The Advertiser he and his wife Paula, 46, were thankful for the support from the community in his family’s time of need.

“My wife and I are very grateful for anything given what we’ve lost,” he said.

“I’m still trying to come to terms with everything and I’m still in hospital.

“I thank all the emergency services for their efforts, I can’t fault them for everything they tried to do for us, they were so supportive.”

Mr Eykelenburg is an award-winning chef and was head chef at Sorrentos when it was awarded the Australian Good Food Guide Reader’s Choice Award in 2023.

He had worked at the cafe since 2010 until it went into receivership in October 15 this year.

An online fundraiser set up to support the family reveals it is the latest devastating blow for the parents, and seeks to raise $15,000.

“My friends Chris and Paula … are going to kill me for doing this but they need help,” friend Tara Button who started the fundraiser wrote.

“This is the last thing they both need as Chris was made redundant not that long ago with his job going into receivership.

“They also had some issues with their house when we had the last lot of strong winds.

“So times have already been tough for them.”

Mr Eykelenburg paid tribute to the community for rallying behind the workers of Sorrento’s after its closure last week.

He thanked Confession Coffee House for their efforts in raising funds for the workers who were left without a job and doing it tough.

He remains in hospital in Mount Gambier.

A 15-year-old girl was flown to the RAH with life-threatening injuries. Picture: 7NEWS

Police closed the Riddoch Highway for several hours as they reviewed the scene on Sunday.

Investigations indicate the family was travelling in a grey Toyota station wagon that had braked to avoid hitting a black Holden sedan that had hit an emu.

The Toyota was then struck from behind by a white Nissan ute.

A man visiting the crash site on Monday morning to pay tribute said the road was notorious for wildlife activity – so much so he almost hit an emu just a kilometre away from where the horrific accident happened.

A five-year-old boy has died and a 15-year-old girl is in a critical condition after a freak pileup crash on the Riddoch Highway at Nangwarry in the state’s southeast. . Picture: 7NEWS

“(An emu) just came flying out and I was close to hitting it, its crazy,” he said.

“It literally skimmed past the back of my trailer just minutes ago.

“I travel from Penola to Mount Gambier on a regular basis and the amount of wildlife you see is incredible.

“Any time of the year, they are just everywhere.”

The man said was overwhelmed with emotion for the family’s loss.

“We know the family well … their son was a similar age to ours,” he said.

“It hits home hard when there’s kids, it really is horrible.

“You feel for all the other drivers involved.”

Originally published as Mount Gambier community fundraises for five-year-old boy’s family after horrific fatal crash