Triple tragedy after hero dad dies saving children
A hero father’s last moments before his devastating death have been captured in a heartwarming family photo.
Brad Coleman posed for a beautiful photo with his wife Hulya and two kids Raiden, 13, and Aleyna, 11 at their favourite holiday spot in Jervis Bay on the south coast of NSW.
The family were enjoying their first holiday in three years, when a tragic turn of events changed everything.
As Raiden and Aleyna jumped into the water at Hyams beach, a dangerous rip took them in and forced their father to rush in to save them.
The 40-year-old father did not think twice when he jumped into action to save his two children with the help of onlookers on bodyboards.
As he tried to bring himself to safety, Brad struggled greatly and it is believed he suffered from a heart attack which saw him die in the water.
His wife Hulya watched on in horror as his body slowly made its way to shore, with his head under water.
She suffered a heart attack as well after approaching her husband’s body.
Hulya, Raiden and Aleyna were all flown to the Prince of Wales Hospital where they were all treated.
“It just kept pulling, the waves kept pulling and pulling at you,” Hulya told The Daily Telegraph.
“There was nothing I could do to save him. I’ve lost my best friend. I never thought I’d ever be a widow.
“This is a nightmare that I keep thinking I’ll wake up from... then I realise it’s true.
“I’ve lost my best friend, the love of my life and the most wonderful father to our children.
“We are in this timeline and it’s not just a nightmare. Brad would have fought long, hard, and then long and hard again before taking a lungful of water, of that I have no doubt.
“My beloved became our eternal hero, and my heart literally broke on that beach, but it could have been so much worse.”
Further to that, Hulya’s father passed away in palliative care before she was able to say goodbye.
Brad’s brother Scott organised a GoFundMe page to help support Hulya and her children.
“Any donation you can make, small or large, to assist in the long-term support of Brad’s family will be gratefully and humbly received.”
Image: GoFundMe