Ryan Kimball: Buderim teenager remembered after fatal Bli Bli crash

A Sunshine Coast teenager who lost his life in a car rollover in Bli Bli has been remembered for his cheeky smile and love of boating as his family grapples with their loss.

The grief-stricken father of a Buderim teenager who lost his life in a car crash in Bli Bli has retold the moment dozens of his son’s mates came to his home to share heartwarming stories about the young boatie.

Ryan Kimball, 16, died in a car rollover along Finland Road on June 9, 2022 while two other boys, aged 15 and 17, were rushed to Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

Since his devastating death Ryan’s father Graeme Kimball has remembered his son’s “cheeky smile” and said “you couldn’t ask for a better son”.

“He was always smiling and he was just a great kid,” Mr Kimball said.

Ryan Kimball. Picture: Facebook

Mr Kimball said his son loved his mates and boating and would often cruise up the Maroochy River any opportunity he had after learning how to drive boats with his pop when he was three.

“I’m starting to see videos in the last few days where he’s driving his boat, and I should’ve known what he was doing as he would tell me he was going out fishing and he never had any fishing rods,” he said.

“I never saw him with any fish either.

“He just loved tearing down the river.”

Mr Kimball said the family opened up their home to those close to Ryan to reminisce about the former Good Samaritan Catholic College student and was blown away by the response.

Ryan Kimball loved his boats and his mates. Picture: Facebook

“We wanted them to grieve here rather than at the crash scene as they’re all good kids,” he said.

“On Sunday I was sitting out the back just really depressed and then a constant stream of people who loved Ryan just came up the driveway.

“I was blown away … it was amazing.”

Mr Kimball said up to 50 people, including his mates and family friends, came to tell yarns of Ryan and remember the beloved teenager.

In the days since Ryan’s death social media has been awash with touching tributes under the hashtag #revforryan with videos depicting boat motors, motorcycles and cars revving their engines for the popular teen.

The outpouring of tributes of his son was remarkable according to Mr Kimball, who was glad people were only revving their engines and not doing burnouts to celebrate his son’s life.

“I couldn’t thank the girl enough who started Rev for Ryan,” Mr Kimball said.

“We even gave his boat a rev (Sunday) for him.”

Ryan Kimball has been remembered by his close mates through the Rev For Ryan Facebook group. Picture: Contributed

Mr Kimball wanted to renew calls for more driver education in schools that could educate younger drivers to prevent further tragedies, along with general safety about the roads.

Students from Good Samaritan were being offered counselling after Ryan’s death with the Buderim teen having plenty of mates from his former school.

Good Samaritan principal Greg Myers said those at the school were shattered after the “tragic loss” of their former pupil Ryan.

“He was a really popular young man with lots of young friends and was respected by staff and students at the school,” Mr Myers said.

“We’re all going to miss him deeply because he was still very close to the students after he left, with many of them classing him as their best friend.

“We’ve spoken to Ryan’s mum this morning and will be offering support in whatever way the family wants.”

A GoFundMe campaign was created on Monday to raise funds for Ryan’s funeral with any excess funds to be donated to a disability charity close to the teenager’s heart.

Ryan’s funeral date is still yet to be determined.

The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating and appealing for anyone who witnessed the crash, or motorists with relevant dashcam vision, to contact them.

Originally published as Ryan Kimball: Buderim teenager remembered after fatal Bli Bli crash