Tarci Carey’s friends share moments with beloved 22-year-old man

Devastated mates have paid tribute to Tarci Carey and share their ‘unbearable heartbreak’ and memories of happier times.

The 22-year-old man who was “nothing but beautiful” has been mourned by friends and family after his body was found by search crews in the Imbil State Forest on Tuesday, September 6, ending a month-long operation.

Miranda Wells, a civilian volunteer in the search for Nambour nursery worker Tarci Carey, shared in a Facebook post how she found Tarci on Tuesday about 1km from his car during a hike with Tarci’s dear friend Tigerlily Boyce.

It was a devastating but not completely unexpected conclusion to the sad story that began the weekend Tarci failed to turn up at work.

Tarci was described as “the most welcoming, selfless and encouraging person you could possibly come across,” by his friend Alyx Jelicich on Wednesday.

Ms Jelicich said Tarci would never leave someone on their own when they needed support, and was the “first person to pick up the phone if you aren’t doing well”.

He can “brighten any room” and bring a smile to everyone’s faces. She described him as pure enlightenment every time he was present.

“Fear isn’t a factor with Tarci by my side, never,” Ms Jelicich said.

Tarci Carey was missing for a month before his body was found in the Imbil State Forest. Photo: Facebook

She described Tarci as one-of-a-kind, a soul which won’t “come by in this lifetime again”.

Ms Jelicich joined the search for Tarci on its second day, and helped launch a GoFundMe to aid the search and support his family.

She met Tarci through his family and mutual friends five years ago, and the pair have been friends ever since.

She said she had held high hopes (of finding Tarci alive) until the very end, before receiving the devastating phone call on Wednesday morning that he had been found.

“There is no way I could fathom this would be the outcome,” she said.

“This is something that certainly hasn’t processed and I’m sure won’t for a while.

“ [I feel] just broken. Very very broken.”

Tarci was high spirited about anything he talked about, Ms Jelicich said.

Tarci Carey in 2019. Photo: Instagram

The happiest moments shared with him were always “grounding and timeless,” she said.

Tarci was always teaching her something new, no matter how small. Time spent with him flew and there was never a wasted moment.

Tarci was a “man of the Earth.” Ms Jelicich said her favourite memory was of a night around a fire pit with a group of friends.

“We spoke all night long with no track of time about how immaculate our world is and it’s one of those nights where every single word has stuck for years,” she said.

“I love Tarci endlessly,” she said.

The search for Tarci Carey started after his car was seen in thick forestry near Gympie.

Zane Conroy, a mate to Tarci since the age of nine, shared heartfelt words in a social media tribute on Thursday morning.

“I can’t describe how unbearably heartbroken I really am nor can I find the words to describe how much your life had an impact on mine,” Mr Conroy said.

He reminisced on his memories, from “endless creek adventures, rock hopping [and] building forts” to parkour sessions and hours spent together in front of the Xbox.

“You were always and always will be my favourite adventure buddy,” he said in the post.

Zane Conroy (left) shared a heartfelt post on Facebook after the search for Tarci Carey (right) ended on Tuesday.

“I wish I could‘ve been there more for you, to help you, to guide you, to hold you and to show you how much I love you and how proud I am of the man you are.

“You always showed everyone how strong you could be, your energy radiated onto everyone around you and you’ve left a deep imprint on so many people’s hearts.”

Mr Conroy said he was inspired by Tarci’s kind heart and soul, warm smile, goofy laugh and caring nature to be the best version of himself, he said in the post.

“No one has or will ever compare to you,” he said.

“Fly high my brother, best friend and soulmate.”

Tigerlily Boyce, in an emotional interview on 7NEWS, had pleaded again for the public’s help in continuing the search a day before the body was found deep in the Mary Valley bushland.

“He’s special and he’s touched so many people,” Ms Boyce said in the interview.

“This isn’t over yet … we still need the community to come together.

“There were things I was planning to tell him.”

Originally published as Tarci Carey’s friends share moments with beloved 22-year-old man