Hunter Valley bus crash victim Kane Symons remembered as ‘Superman’

One of the victims of the weekend bus crash has been described as ‘Superman’ as the premier confirms possible seatbelt law changes.

Kane Symons was one of the 10 people who died in the Hunter Valley bus crash. Picture: Supplied

One of the victims of the fatal bus crash in the NSW Hunter Valley has been remembered as a “Superman”, as Premier Chris Minns pledged that, if changes to seatbelt laws were required, they would be made.

Tasmanian Kane Symons, 21, was remembered as an “amazing athlete who competed at the highest level” and a leader, great bloke and a “mate to many”, the Carlton Park Surf Life Saving Club wrote in a social media post.

Mr Symons was one of 10 ­passengers killed in the horror bus crash, which occurred following the wedding of Madeleine Edsell and Mitchell Gaffney at a large roundabout near the small town of Greta. His partner Kyah McBride also passed away.

The couple were reportedly planning to travel to Europe together later this year following his completion of an electrician apprenticeship.

A friend of Mr Symons, Shayne Jupp, also posted he was “one of the finest young men that you would ever be likely to meet” and that it was “an honour to share time” with him.

The NSW Premier on Wednesday morning said his government stood ready to make changes to state seatbelt laws should they be required.

Mr Minns said that, if there were seatbelts on a bus, people were required by law to wear them.

“It is the law of the land to wear a seatbelt in NSW if it’s on a bus or a coach,” he said. “It’s the driver’s responsibility to let people know if there’s a seatbelt on that bus, and it’s your responsibility to wear it if you’re on that bus.

NSW premier Chris Minns announces the Government will donate $100,000 to a newly established fund to support the families of the Greta bus tragedy. Liam Mendes

“I want the police to have the time and space to conduct their inquiries to issue a full report to the NSW government, but I will obviously say that if changes are required, then we’ll make those changes.”

Mr Minns said there were 13 people still in hospital following Sunday’s crash, nine patients in a stable condition in John Hunter Hospital, two in a stable condition in Singleton hospital and two in Royal Prince Alfred in Sydney.

He also announced $100,000 from the Premier’s ­discretionary fund would be contributed to the government’s donation fund set up for families and communities affected by the incident. The funds would be distributed by Rotary Australia.

“We all need to be there for this community because it will take many people a long time to get over what is clearly an unimaginable tragedy for so many families in such a large community,” he said.

Mr Minns said his government did not have a position on calls for the installation of aircraft-style black box recorders on coaches and buses.

“That will be both the subject of the inquiry by police and the coroner eventually, and we look forward to receiving their report and we‘ll take action from there,” he said.

Mr Symons’ father Steven ­Symons told The Age his son “was adventurous, he loved having to go and trying things and doing things and challenging himself and others”.