Tragedy as young man’s body pulled from Yarra River in Melbourne as heartbroken loved ones pay tribute
Devastated friends have paid tribute to a young man whose body was recovered from a river after a night out in a major Australian city.
The body of 22-year-old Chadwer ‘Chaddy’ Leah was recovered from Melbourne’s Yarra River on Tuesday.
Mr Leah, from Clyde North, was reported missing after becoming separated from his friends outside a club in the CBD this weekend.
The 22-year-old had driven into town on Saturday or Sunday evening and entered a club with his friends. Herald Sun reports.
He was seen behaving ‘quite out of character’ before disappearing from outside the club.
His car had not been moved from where it was parked and it is believed he was last seen alive near Bourke Street.
Police said Mr Leah entered the Yarra River near Banana Alley off Flinders Street at around 3am on Monday, before his body was retrieved on Tuesday afternoon.
The young man’s beloved friends and family had desperately searched businesses in the CBD and appealed on social media before his body was found.
Friends have paid tribute to 22-year-old Chadwer ‘Chaddy’ Leah (pictured), whose body was recovered from Melbourne’s Yarra River on Tuesday after a night out on the town
Mr Leah, from Clyde North, was reported missing after becoming separated from his friends outside a club in the CBD this weekend
Mr. Leah is considered the eldest of eight siblings and has helped raise his younger siblings.
“He was known for his smile, he was always laughing,” his old friend Sequoia-Skye Farris-White told the Herald Sun.
When she moved from Western Australia to Melbourne ten years ago, Mr Leah had been her first boyfriend.
“If you had a bad day, you can never have a bad day with him. He cheered everyone up,” she said.
Another friend Teasha Ah-Young attended Mordialloc College with Mr. Leah.
“Chaddy was an extremely sweet, gentle and cheerful soul, he never had anything bad to say about anyone,” she told the publication.
“He brought joy and laughter to everyone around him, and his death has left a huge hole in our community.
“He will be greatly missed, but his memory will always live on.”
A GoFundMe is raising money for the funeral costs of Mr Leah and his devastated family and has raised almost $28,000 to date at the time of writing.
The cause of Mr Leah’s death is not yet known and the police investigation continues.
Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Mr Leah’s friends (pictured right) are devastated by his death. He was known for his smile, he was always smiling,” one person said