Joel Fitzgibbon reveals the moment he received the call about his son’s fatal parachuting accident
Former Defense Secretary Joel Fitzgibbon has revealed the heartbreaking moment he received a phone call telling him his son had suffered a parachute accident that would later claim his life.
Lance Corporal Jack Fitzgibbon, 33, died on March 6 after an accident at the RAAF base in Richmond, about 50 kilometers north of Sydney.
Jack suffered serious head injuries and was rushed to Westmead Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Fitzgibbon, who served as Australia’s defense minister from 2007 to 2009, struggled to hold back tears as he spoke candidly about his son’s death, saying his heart was “still breaking.”
In an interview with Sky News Host Erin Molan, who was also in tears at times, said receiving the call was “the worst moment of my life.”
He was first told about the accident at a Sydney restaurant and tried to remain optimistic that his son might pull through.
He then received another call from Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles as he was on his way to Westmead Hospital.
“(I) tried to think best about it, but when Richard Marles called me about halfway through (to the hospital), you know, after I made those calls myself, I knew that it was for the minister, to be advised, was very bad. seriously,” he said.
“I used to make these calls without expecting to receive one.”
Joel Fitzgibbon (pictured) broke down in tears during a television interview as he spoke about the moment he received the dreaded phone call that his son Jack had been seriously injured
Lance Corporal Jack Fitzgibbon (pictured right) died on March 6 while conducting a routine exercise at an RAAF base at Richmond in Sydney’s northwest when his parachute failed to open.
It is understood Jack’s parachute failed to open during a training exercise in which the 33-year-old used a knife to try to free himself to deploy his reserve parachute.
The knife was found at the ends of the qualified parachutist’s fingertips after he hit the ground following the 4,000-metre jump.
Mr Fitzgibbon said he was “comforted” by the fact that his son died doing something he loved and that he lost his life in service to his country.
“The Fitzys are nothing if not strong and resilient, get through it, we are strong,” he said.
“Two weeks later we’re laughing more than we’re crying.”
He also talked about meeting another grieving father at a Commando Welfare Trust.
‘At one point in the conversation I realized it seemed like he had lost his son a while ago. And I asked him, ”When did you lose your son?” ”15 years ago,” he said.
“And it was still broken. So that scared me a little bit,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
The former defense secretary said he never worried about Jack “jumping out of planes” and was more cautious about what his son would do with his friends.
‘I mean your son is jumping out of planes at 25,000 feet. It doesn’t seem very rational, but you convince yourself that everything will be fine,” he said.
“His mother was more worried than I was, but not excessively, but of course he always said, you know, ‘It’s going to be okay, Mom.’
Through tears, Mr Fitzgibbon said he would miss texting Jack during the footy, with both father and son avid followers of the Newcastle Knights.
He said he lost interest in the things he once shared with Jack.
Mr Fitzgibbon said he would miss texting Jack (pictured) through tears during the footy with both father and son, enthusiastic Newcastle Knights fans
‘I’m sure that will come back. But texting him means that opportunity will never come back,” Fitzgibbon said.
When asked if he had reviewed the text messages with his son, he wiped away tears as he said “yes.”
Jack’s cause of death is currently under investigation.
“We will not be an angry family, it is clear that we are kind of embedded in the defense family ourselves,” he said.
“We owe it to Jack and those still jumping or still jumping to ask the hard questions.
‘He will be in our thoughts forever. We don’t need a birthday or something important (to commemorate him).”
Following Jack’s death, Mr Fitzgibbon made an emotional statement to Acting Australian Defense Force Special Operations Commander Brigadier James Kidd in memory of his son.
“We are devastated and heartbroken by the loss of our wonderful Jack,” he wrote.
“Serving in the Special Forces was Jack’s dream job and we take comfort in the fact that he died serving his country.
“Our lives will never be the same without Jack, but we will always be proud of him and his many achievements.”
Jack is survived by his sisters Caitlin and Grace, his mother Dianne and father Joel.