"He was at peace": Sam Landsberger’s parents break silence after sudden death
The heartbroken family of Sam Landsberger have revealed what he was doing in his final moments before he tragically died at the age of 35.
Landsberger, 35, was struck by a truck driven by a 45-year-old Seaford man at the intersection of Bridge Rd and Church St in Richmond, Melbourne on Tuesday morning.
According to Sam's father Jake, his son's final moments were spent on the phone to his mother Anne while he was walking to meet a friend.
“Anne was on the phone with Sam when it happened, heard the hit, she heard the commotion, and we’ve been beside ourselves worrying whether she actually possibly distracted him,” Jake told The Herald Sun on Wednesday.
‘The next thing there was commotion, a stranger picked up the phone, and said: ‘Who am I talking to’, so Anne said: ‘I’m Sam’s mother, who are you’."
“And he said, ‘I’m sorry to say but your son has just been hit by a vehicle … he’s lying on the ground’.
“The man conversed with Sam initially until he lost consciousness’.”
Landsberger was rushed to hospital but later died from his extensive injuries.
His father said the family received a message from the man who helped Landsberger on Wednesday, saying, “He messaged us and said, ‘I told Sam I was on the phone with his mother and he was at peace knowing that he was communicating with you through me’."
Victoria Police have since confirmed the truck driver, 45, who stopped at the scene, underwent “standard” roadside alcohol and drug tests, which were both negative.
“He was requested by Melbourne Highway Patrol officers to provide a blood sample as per standard procedure under the Road Safety Act being a driver involved in a serious collision,” a spokesman said.
“The driver allegedly refused and was charged on summons with refusing to provide a blood sample.”
The man was “immediately” given a notice banning him from driving, and is due to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on September 19th.
Sam's father said that while his family are "angry" over what happened, they have been overwhelmed by the amount of love they have received since Sam's tragic passing.
“I can’t put into words the comfort, the joy and the pride we are getting from that,” Jake said.
“By the time we both took two sleeping pills to go to bed about 9pm on Tuesday, I personally had received in excess of 250 messages and Anne probably the same."
“The tributes, watching AFL360, seeing The Tackle had been postponed, the stories all over the media … I said to Anne while we sat at our table bawling our eyes out, I wish I could go back to the morgue in the coroner’s court, just wake Sam up briefly and say, ‘Sam, look how much you were loved, look how much you were admired’."
“Because he had no idea. He did not realise. The degree to what we’ve seen has blown us to smithereens.”
Image credits: Twitter