The suicide of a young surfer who died just a month after celebrating his 20th birthday has shattered the hearts of his family, including a TV personality uncle, a motivational speaker father and a football star stepfather, Kieran Foran.
Logan Steinwede, who as a young boy dreamed of becoming a professional surfer, was discovered by his grandparents on Monday morning.
His uncle, parenting expert and TV presenter Dr Justin Coulson, announced his death on Tuesday in a heartbreaking 900-word post on social media.
‘Logan was staying with my parents the night he took his own life. My mother and father – his grandparents – found him Monday morning,” Dr. Coulson wrote.
‘Too late to help. Too late to do anything other than scream “No.”
Logan Steinwede, 20, who dreamed of becoming a professional surfer since he was a young boy, was discovered by his grandparents on Monday morning after he committed suicide (photo with his mother Karina Foran)
Pictured: Logan and his mother in an Instagram post she shared on his last birthday last month
“It was too late for him to hear them as they shouted his name over and over, ‘Logan! Logan! Logan! Logan!’ “No no no no no!!!!”.’
Logan’s mother, Karina – sister of Dr. Coulson – was in Melbourne for a celebratory weekend with her husband – and Logan’s stepfather – Gold Coast Titans halfback Kieran Foran, when she heard the devastating news.
Karina, who works as a hairdresser and fitness instructor, shared a video on Tuesday of her and her late son Logan arm-in-arm during a hike in June this year.
Dr. Coulson (pictured), presenter of Channel Nine’s Parental Guidance programme, said his nephew was ‘the most energetic and delightful child I know’. Friendly. Pleasure. Laughing all the time
“I would give anything my boy,” she captioned the heartbreaking post.
She later shared a photo of Logan with a surfboard on a beach and wrote, “My boy. My heart is not in my chest.’
Karina married Foran in 2018 after a year of dating, following her divorce from Logan’s father, Mat, several years earlier.
Mat was a former homeless drug addict who was on Australia’s Most Wanted List before meeting Karina and turning his life around, building a multi-million dollar career as a real estate agent.
Logan’s father, who now does motivational speaking and hosts the 31 Minute Podcast, shared three sons with Karina before they split.
Both have children from other relationships.
Mat’s new wife, Tara, gave birth of a baby girl – Logan’s half-sister – just six weeks ago.
Logan’s father had nurtured his talent for surfing from a young age, which had him on the verge of signing a pro contract before his tragic death.
A profile on
“My name is Logan and I’m 8. I’m going to be a professional surfer,” the profile bio wrote.
‘My goal is to be sponsored by Hurley, Red Bull and Dylan. I practice with my father every day.’
Logan’s mother married NRL superstar Kieran Foran in 2018 after a year of dating (pictured)
Logan is pictured on the far left on the couple’s wedding day
On Wednesday, Logan’s brother Jaxson shared a photo of himself smiling in the surf.
“Tell your family you love them, never go to bed on bad terms and just love each other. You never know when you will have your last conversation with someone,” Jaxson wrote.
Dr. Coulson, host of Channel Nine’s Parental Guidance programme, revealed that Logan left a note.
“But the note won’t bring peace or relief to anyone… Because he’s dead,” Doctor Coulson said.
He wrote movingly and honestly about how he was ‘not doing so well’.
‘My heart is broken. Shattered for Logan. But also for his parents, brothers and sisters, and for my parents,” he wrote.
But the parenting expert did not ask for sympathy, but called on people to reach out to others who may be struggling.
“There are nine suicides every day in Australia,” he wrote. ‘Seven of those nine suicides per day are men. Two of those nine are women.’
Suicide is the leading cause of death among people between the ages of 15 and 24.
Logan’s father, Mat (pictured), was a former homeless drug addict who was on Australia’s Most Wanted List before meeting Karina and turning his life around, building a multi-million dollar career as a real estate agent. He is now a motivational speaker and podcaster
Logan and his father are pictured together in a YouTube video recorded in 2019, in which he detailed his desire to eventually become a professional surfer
Dr. Coulson pointed out what can be done to help, saying strong social bonds reduce the risk of suicide.
“Please, please, please, please be kind. Have compassion. Be gentle. Be inclusive. Be supportive. Be less critical and judgmental and more of a cheerleader,” Dr. Coulson said.
‘Don’t sit on your child’s back (or on your partner/spouse’s back). Instead, make sure you have their back. Love them and make sure they know it. They need to know that they matter.’
Dr. Coulson also said that people should stop saying “I have no words” when confronted with tragic news, even if the use of that phrase is well-intentioned.
Last week on his Happy Families Podcast he spoke with Colin Campbell, the author of a book called Finding the Words, which he wrote after his two teenagers died in a car accident.
In stark words on social media, Dr Coulson said: ‘My cousin died on Sunday night. He died by suicide.” Logan is in the photo
The parenting expert urged people to reach out to those who may be struggling. Logan’s mother shared the above photo with the caption: ‘My boy. My heart is not in my chest
‘Colin makes it clear that when we say ‘there are no words’ we are, in a sense, reducing the person’s life to nothing.
“We must find the words, because the words we find tell the stories of those we love. And those stories help us celebrate their lives and our love for them,” he said.
Dr. Coulson advised people to share their stories, feel their pain and take their experiences to the next level.
‘Find. The. Words. They are there. And we have to share them,” he said.
He added: “Everyone needs someone to talk to. Everyone needs to know that they matter. Everyone should feel seen, heard and valued.’
Logan (pictured) was remembered by his uncle as the ‘most energetic and delightful boy I know’. Friendly. Pleasure. Laughing all the time
Dr. Coulson then made what he said a simple point.
“If you’re going through a hard time, or if a loved one is going through a hard time, talk to someone. A family member. A friend. Call Lifeline. Contact Beyond Blue, Gotcha4Life or the Movember Foundation (because hey… Logan died in a month dedicated to men’s mental health: Movember).
“Talk to a local church leader, a trusted neighbor, anyone. Reach out. Tell people they matter.”
He ended his powerful message about suicide, grief and the power of talking by saying, “I miss Logan. Please hug your children. Hug your husband/wife/spouse/partner.
“And share this message and this love with everyone who needs to know how much they matter.”
Dr. Coulson politely declined to comment further when contacted by Ny Breaking Australia.
Logan’s parents were contacted for comment.
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Suicide callback service: 1300 659 467
Mensline Australia: 1300 789 987
Children’s helpline: 1800 55 1800