A man who tragically died after crashing his buggy in a remote area of the Northern Territory was only a few weeks away from becoming a father for the first time.
A little after 11 p.m. on Thursday, Matthew Hall, 34, was driving a buggy with another man, 35, in Nhulunbuy, in East Arnhem, which is located around 100 km south of Gove.
Using a personal locator device, the man contacted the authorities, and a CareFlight rescue chopper was sent to the scene.
The 35-year-old was transported to Gove Hospital with significant injuries, while Mr. Hall passed away at the site.
Mr. Hall and his girlfriend Sally Fischer, who is 20 weeks pregnant, were ready to welcome a baby boy.
Sarah Fischer, Ms. Fischer’s sister, described him as a “wonderful man” who ‘loved and treasured’ her sister.
She said on Facebook, “You never stopped to make her and everyone around you smile.”
“I am very appreciative of all the fantastic experiences and adventures you were able to enjoy with my lovely sister, your lifelong companion.
“We know you will always be there looking over Sal and your beautiful newborn son, even though you had only just begun the grandest journey of all,” they said.
Mr. Hall, according to Sarah, “loved life to the fullest and cherished every minute,” and was an ardent fisherman, hunter, and adventure seeker.
She remarked, “I want to thank you for being such a humorous, clever, loving, compassionate, and just plain lovely human being.”
You will always be cherished and missed.
Online tributes to the outdoors enthusiast have been flooded by grieving pals. He was hailed as a ‘genuine Aussie man who was ‘gentle’ and ‘down to earth.
Such heartbreaking news wrote Katie Harding.
Matthew Hall has always been one of the nicest and most straightforward people you could ever meet. He has always enjoyed a good laugh and an adventure. Everyone will really miss you.
“Rest in peace, my friend. I’ll always treasure our memories.”
Mr. Hall “lived his life to the utmost fullest” and “always had a new adventure on the horizon,” according to friend Zoe Shepherd.
She said that he was a fantastic friend who would give the shirt off his back if necessary and that everyone who knew him would concur.
A genuine Aussie bloke with the ability to make any audience laugh.
Mr. Hall, according to Ms. Shepherd, is a “Territory legend in the hunting community” who is beloved by both children and adults.
The woman said, “Matt is so loved and so profoundly lost by many people, he would be so appreciative to each and every person for assisting Sally in her time of sheer pain.”
Everyone who knew him—near or far—will be deeply affected by this loss.
Renee Connelly, a friend, has put up a GoFundMe to support Ms. Fischer as she prepares to become a mother alone.
The fundraising, which has raised a total of $28,200, according to Ms. Connelly, will be used to pay for the family’s burial expenses as well as impending liabilities.
Ms. Connelly wrote on the website, “Matt has left a hole in so many people’s lives, but especially his girlfriend Sally, who is 20 weeks pregnant.”
Please consider making a donation of any size to assist me to provide financial support for Sally, their infant, and Matt’s family.
As authorities look into the occurrence, the accident site has been designated a crime scene.