‘He was my world’: Wife of father of four who died in a fiery motorcycle crash tells of his last moments

The wife of a loving father who tragically lost his life in a fiery crash after ducking out to get better bait for fishing says she doesn’t know how to live without him.

Luke Irwin, 26, died in a fiery motorcycle crash in Kippa Ring on June 17. Photo: supplied

Luke Irwin was spending an idylic day kayaking with his family and fishing off a South East Queensland jetty when he decided they needed better bait. Just hours later, and metres down the road from his wife, he tragically lost his life in a fiery crash as he returned from home on his motorcycle.

Mr Irwin and his wife, Jade Hatcher, were fishing off Redcliffe jetty about 9pm on Tuesday when he made the decision to head home to get more bait.

“On that day we were fishing at the jetty, and he was whingeing about the bait that we had. He said it wasn’t good enough, we needed worms,” Ms Hatcher said.

But as he rode his motorcycle back to his wife, it hit a Mitsubishi Fuso minibus at the intersection of Anzac Ave and Oleander St at Kippa Ring just after 9.30pm.

Luke Irwin, 26, died in a fiery motorcycle crash in Kippa Ring on June 17. Photo: supplied

“I heard sirens, and I knew straight away, part of me died,” she said.

“I was 600m away from the crash. I was sitting there fishing, waiting for him to return. There were so many sirens.”

Then, as Ms Hatcher “lifelessly” packed up the fishing spot, Luke’s friend returned to the Jetty where the trio had been fishing, and told her there had been a fatal accident up the road and Luke’s bike was on the ground near the crash site.

“I got to the scene of the crash and I was hysterical, I could see him,” she said.

“He was our world. I don't know how I am going to live without him.”

The Courier-Mail understands the minibus, which was being used as a man’s home, exploded into flames following the impact.

Mr Irwin, 26, suffered critical injuries and died at the scene, and the 51-year-old bus owner was taken to Redcliffe Hospital to be treated for minor burns.

Luke Irwin, 26, died in a fiery motorcycle crash in Kippa Ring on June 17. Photo: supplied

“What haunts me is that my poor baby was there alone, I had a real bad accident a few years ago and he was there before the ambulance. He was by my side,” she said.

Ms Hatcher said the pair got engaged on August 20, 2017 and were married on April 20, 2019 and not long after welcomed twins Luca and Liam.

“They both have a disability, one of them is Autistic and the other one has ADHD and intellectually impaired and non-verbal, they were his life. He just adored them,” she said.

“Earlier that day we been kayaking with the boys, him and I had spent time together, we had such a beautiful day.

“I had two girls that he has raised, he loves and adores as his own. This has devastated a lot of people.”

Luke’s father, Ian Irwin has remembered his son as a “larrikin” and warned others to “take care on the roads” following his son’s fatal accident.

“It’s a very sad day that I pass on to family and friends that my young son Luke passed away following a bike accident a couple of days ago, he was to turn 27 in August and leaves behind a young family,” Mr Irwin said in a social media post.

“Luke was a larrikin and loved by all who knew him. Please everyone, take care on the roads.”

Ms Hatcher has since launched a fundraiser calling on support to fund a funeral for Luke that will be held on July 4.

“I am trying to give him the funeral that he deserves. We are trying to raise funds at the moment,” she said.

Originally published as ‘He was my world’: Wife of father of four who died in a fiery motorcycle crash tells of his last moments