The heartbreaking text mum-of-11 sent to her husband Hayden Selby before he died in motorbike crash on the way to their brand new home
A grieving mother of 11 has revealed the heartbreaking final message she sent her husband before he died in a horrific car and motorbike accident.
Hayden Errol Frank Selby, 31, died on July 19 when his motorcycle collided with a car on the M1 motorway near New Mount Pleasant Road, Mount Ousley, south of Sydney, at about 4.10pm on Friday.
Mr Selby and his fiancée Katie Powell were preparing to move to the Illawarra over the weekend. He was walking a friend to their new home when the accident happened.
His girlfriend, Kirsten Anthony, was driving behind him in a Toyota SUV pulling a trailer when she collided with his motorcycle.
The 24-year-old has since been charged with reckless driving resulting in death.
Katie Powell, Mr Selby’s fiancée and mother of their 11 children, shared the heartbreaking last message she sent him before his death.
“Hayden was helping a friend move up the coast on Friday and I texted him in the afternoon saying, ‘I love you, drive safe and take care of each other,'” she said 7News.
Mrs Powell said she became concerned when a few hours had passed and she still had not received a response.
Father of 11 Hayden Selby, 31, was killed on July 19 when a car driven by his friend collided with his motorcycle in Mount Ousley, south of Sydney
She said she received a phone call from one of Mr Selby’s friends at around 6pm, telling her the terrible news.
“It’s been a blur ever since. I take my kids to school every day and then I don’t know what to do,” Ms. Powell said.
Mrs Powell added that the couple have 11 children and two grandchildren, the youngest of whom is eight months old and ‘will never even know her father’.
She described her fiancé as a selfless “protector” and “gentle giant” who would always help family and friends in need.
“He was such a teddy bear, a gentle giant and a protector. He was the one his friends could count on for everything. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for friends and family,” Ms Powell said.
Powell paid a touching tribute to her ‘wonderful’ fiancé, creating a GoFundMe page to raise money for his funeral while she cares for their children.
“This wonderful man was always the first to help anyone who needed help. He fought and struggled to give my children and me what we built together,” Mrs. Powell wrote.
“I just don’t know how to do this. I’m a recently divorced mother of 11 children and two grandchildren.
The man who took such good care of all the important things in our lives is gone.
“I just want to give him what he deserves. Please help me spoil the love of my life and the father of my children one more time.”
Mr Selby’s fiancée and mother of their 11 children, paid a moving tribute to her ‘wonderful protector’ (pictured Mr Selby with three of his children)
At the time of publication, the GoFundMe had received 60 donations totaling $3,755 and the goal is to raise $7,000.
Mrs Powell said she does not know when she will be able to lay Hayden to rest as the police investigation into his death is still ongoing.
Ms Anthony was granted bail on Saturday and is due to appear in court later this month.