A father-of-three has died on his dream holiday as his family fights to return his remains.
Andrew Congdon, 30, was on a road trip through South Australia to visit the places he grew up as a boy.
He was due to fly back to his wife and children in Hillston, central west NSW, on New Year’s Eve when tragedy struck and he died.
Bella Page, a close family friend and Mr Congdon’s neighbor for six years, told Daily Mail Australia Mr Congdon was a “wonderful father” with a number of passions.
“He loved working on cars. He was a car enthusiast. He loved fishing and being with family and friends,” she said.
“Overall great guy.”
The family mourns the monumental loss, without the finances to bring his body home.
Mrs Page said the youngest of his children are “struggling to cope”.
Andrew Congdon, 30, was on a road trip through South Australia to visit the places he grew up as a boy
Bella Page, a close family friend and Mr Congdon’s neighbor for six years, told Daily Mail Australia Mr Congdon was a “wonderful father” with a number of passions
Ms Page has launched a GoFundMe to help her best friend return Mr Congdon’s remains to her family.
She wrote that her best friend had to take a leave of absence from work to support her “devastated” children.
‘Because he was a healthy 30-year-old, he had no funeral fund, leaving this poor family not only heartbroken, but also with the devastating financial cost of giving him the send-off he deserves, not to mention the other costs during this difficult time. ‘ she wrote.
“My best friend never wanted financing for me because she said, ‘I don’t want handouts,’ but unfortunately this tragedy has led to extreme financial hardship.
“I am reaching out to the public to please help a grieving young family bring their father home.”
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