Surfer, adventurer Ben Pike remembered with paddle-out
A surfer who survived the 2010 Indonesian tsunami and went back to help afterwards has been farewelled, with family and friends mourning the “magnet of good energy”.
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A surfer who founded a resort in Indonesia and helped rebuild a village following a devastating tsunami, has been remembered as an adventurous and caring soul.
Ballan’s Ben Pike was killed in a tragic crash on Bacchus Marsh-Balliang Rd on September 10 this year.
Following his death, tributes poured in for the popular 47-year-old, with family and friends recalling his kindness and compassion and describing him as an “absolute legend” and “a remarkable person, who touched the hearts of so many people”.
One friend, who said they worked with Mr Pike at Quiksilver, described him in a tribute on social media as the “coolest, I mean absolute coolest of dudes”.
“He stayed at my crib in Geelong about a year ago, and the stories he told me, I told him he needed to write a book!!” the post read.
Another tribute said Mr Pike was “a magnet of good energy and resilience” and said his death had left “so many of us rattled by the news”.
Mr Pike sought out adventure through surfing trips, backpacking in Africa, trekking through Nepal to Everest base camp and completing 25 skydives across Victoria.
He was reading in a tent at the Mentawai islands, an island chain off the coast of Sumatra in Indonesia, when the tsunami hit in 2010.
He was trapped underwater, washed into the jungle and survived by holding his breath until tree branches tore a hole in the tent, which he could breathe through.
It was a traumatic experience, but Mr Pike’s first thought was to help others.
Many hadn’t been as lucky as him, with scores perishing in the disaster as whole villages were swept away.
Returning to Torquay, he enlisted volunteers and raised $50,000 to assist in the Gobik Village Relocation Project.
They volunteers he gathered, including tradies from Ocean Grove and Torquay, helped build 18 house for the local people across the next 18 months.
The resort he’d been building became Kingfisher Mentawai Surf Resort.
It was built by hand, from clearing the land to cutting timber and it was a “lifelong love” and a dream come true for Mr Pike and his wife.
Mr Pike sold the resort during the Covid pandemic to spend more time with his family.
A builder by trade but a passionate surfer at heart, Mr Pike first fell in love with the waves during family holidays to Barwon Heads.
On October 21 he was farewelled at special paddle-out memorial, a traditional Hawaiian tribute, at RAAFs beach, where his ashes were spread into the ocean.
Around 200 people, including many from interstate and across the globe, gathered for the farewell, including 57 who joined the floating memorial.
In his eulogy, which was read out at the paddle out, Mr Pike’s father David described the pride the family felt in their son and the heartbreak at his loss.
“Ben was a quiet achiever, always humble, compassionate, non-confrontational and lived and loved his life to the fullest,” Mr Pike said.
“Life will never be the same for any of us.”
Mr Pike is survived by his parents, David and Gayle, siblings Connie and Ash, wife Rebecca and two children.
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Originally published as Surfer, adventurer Ben Pike remembered with paddle-out
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