A newlywed couple has paid a powerful tribute to her husband of just nine days, who tragically drowned during their honeymoon in Bali.
Jacob Vennix, 32, and his new wife, Kimberly Fuller, 38, were relaxing on Pasut Beach, about 30 kilometers west of Denpasar, on Monday when tragedy struck.
The father-of-two from Adelaide became caught in a rip and was thrown into the sea by a freak wave.
He could not be revived when his body returned to shore.
On Tuesday evening, his shattered widow broke her silence to commemorate ‘the most beautiful human being, partner and father’.
Ms Fuller captioned the heartfelt post with a photo of their intertwined hands, taken ‘on the last night I had with him’.
“All he wanted was to marry me and love me and the boys and take care of me. I will make sure the boys know what an angel he was,” she wrote.
‘Now an angel in heaven. I love you, my dear. I’m so sorry.’
Adelaide woman Kimberley Fuller (right) wrote on Facebook that her late husband Jacob Vennix (left) ‘was the most beautiful human being, partner and father’
Ms Fuller posted a photo of their two hands intertwined, which was taken ‘on the last night I had with him’
Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese led the condolences to Mr Vennix.
In a post on social media, Mr Albanese said it was “such deeply sad news”.
“Our thoughts are with Jacob’s wife, family and friends,” he wrote.
Friends of the couple paid tribute to Mr Vennix at his wife’s post, with one saying he was ‘one of the kindest, most amazing gentlemen I have known’.
Another said Mr Vennix was “such a nice guy” and that it was “an honor to have known him.”
One friend complemented Ms Fuller on her post, writing: “You have found perfect words for an unimaginable situation.
‘We’ve been thinking about you all day! We’re sending all our love and we’re here if you need anything.”
Another added: “The love you shared was so special and beautiful to see, forever in our hearts and minds.”
Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who represents the couple’s home state of South Australia in the Senate, said she was “heartbroken for Mr Vennix’s wife and loved ones” and expressed her deepest condolences.
“I know all Australians will be thinking of them,” she said.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and our consular officers in Bali will continue to provide consular assistance.”
The photo shows the bridal couple on their wedding day
“All he wanted was to marry me and love me and the boys and take care of me. I will make sure the boys know what an angel he was,” Kimberley Fuller wrote on Tuesday
Mr Vennix ended up in a crack and was swept into the sea when his wife immediately called for help.
A local fisherman rushed to help Mr Vennix into his boat, but had difficulty reaching him due to the changing currents.
Tabanan police spokesperson I Gusti Made Berata said when the fisherman was finally able to drag the Australian on board, a large wave capsized the boat.
“The victim was later swept away to the beach by the wave,” he said.
“Some locals and the victim’s wife, who were waiting on the beach, immediately tried to rescue the victim.
“The victim’s condition was unconscious.”
Ms Fuller carried a beach chair cushion into the water as a flotation device to help Mr Vennix onto land
Mr Vennix was rushed to Tabanan Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Upstairs, police at the hospital
Heartbreaking footage shows Mr Vennix’s wife carrying the large cushion of a beach chair into the water to help bring Mr Vennix ashore.
The victim’s wife performed CPR with the help of locals and he was eventually taken to Tabanan Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
It is understood he and Mrs Fuller were married on December 21, nine days before the bizarre incident.
Photos showed the couple tying the knot at the Hard Days Night function center in Adelaide.
The couple smiled from ear to ear as they exchanged vows in front of a celebrant.
One photo showed the couple happily posing with a marriage certificate in one of the venue’s lounges.
“Beautiful day marrying a beautiful man x,” Ms Fuller captioned a photo on Facebook.
Mr Vennix described Mrs Fuller as “my beautiful wife” and said he couldn’t “be more proud” in a heartbreaking post a day earlier.
The couple met in a Coles supermarket in 2022 when Ms Fuller’s son was playing on a collection box for guide dogs.
Their one-year-old son is visually impaired and to raise money for research into his condition, Mr Vennix did the recent City-to-Bay fun run blindfolded, accompanied by Mrs Fuller.