‘Sad end to a love story’: Cairns man, partner die just a day apart after kidnapping saga
Comparisons have been made to a famous Hollywood love story following the death of an elderly Cairns man after a bizarre twist involving his longtime partner.
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
COMPARISONS have been made to a famous Hollywood love story following the death of an elderly Cairns man after a bizarre twist involving his longtime partner.
The Far North has reacted with sadness and disbelief after Ralph Gibbs, 80, was identified as the victim of a road smash in the Whitsundays, after details emerged that he had kidnapped his partner from a Western Australia care home earlier this year.
The alleged circumstances surrounding the tragedy is being described as “the modern day Notebook” – a blockbuster romantic drama starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams.
Mr Gibbs, also known as “Terry”, was killed in a head-on-crash near Bowen this week on the Bruce Highway, which resulted in a 60-year-old man being rushed to Mackay Hospital.
His death came just a day after his partner of 15 years, Carol Lisle, 84, died at the Mercy Heath and Aged Care home where she was living in Mandurah.
Startling details emerged that Mr Gibbs, 80, received a suspended seven-month sentence in a Perth court for taking Ms Lisle – who was suffering Parkinson’s disease and dementia – from the residence in January.
The care home is located an hour drive south of the state’s capital.
The court heard he had attempted to transport her across the country in his vehicle without having a legal authority to do so.
The revelation prompted Cairns Post readers to draw comparisons to the wildly popular Hollywood film - where a couple’s love story is read from a notebook by an older man to a fellow aged care resident who has dementia.Liz Cerra and Briony Littmann both described the Bowen tragedy as “The modern day Notebook.”
“Such a sad end to a love story. What a cruel and heartless country we have become,” said Denise Crew.
Anne-Marie Whelan said “condolences to the family and friends left to grieve. This is true love and devotion right here.”
Jannine Napier agreed, saying “such a devotion of love he just had to be with her till the end. What a beautiful couple breaks your heart.”
Other tributes have flooded social media following the pair’s story.
“So Sad. They are together now,” said Kathy Hatchman.
Ilona Monteforte said “this is heartbreaking for all concerned” while David Rayner commented “you cannot break the human spirit.”
Police said Ms Lisle was incapable of making the decision to leave the WA nursing home herself, with the pair found in Mr Gibbs’ vehicle two days later about an hour from the NT border.
Ms Lisle was flown to hospital and Mr Gibbs charged and issued a restraining order, preventing him from seeing the 84-year-old.
He was charged with deprivation of liberty and endangering her life, health or safety of a person, with the jail sentence imposed on Friday.
Outside court, Mr Gibbs described his partner as his “little sweetheart” and vowed to not stop fighting for her.
“My little sweetheart Carol was stolen from me against her will when I was recovering from an illness in a Cairns-based hospital,” he said.
The couple have been apart since the incident, with Ms Lisle dying in her sleep on Tuesday.
Mr Gibbs was killed the following day in the Bruce Highway crash.
More Coverage
Originally published as ‘Sad end to a love story’: Cairns man, partner die just a day apart after kidnapping saga
Video captures kids cracking home security in under 30 seconds
A video showing kid crims busting through the side door of a Cairns home in less than 30 seconds has revealed the vulnerability of security screens.
Win a Cape York trip of a lifetime during Sawfish Sighting Week
Tropical Far North waters are a haven for four of the world’s five species of sawfish and citizen scientists are needed to help find out how many of the critically endangered are left in the wild.