Mueller Ranges crash: Mum’s final conversation with son ‘Freddy James’ before he was killed in horror collision with cattle in WA’s Kimberley region
A grieving mother shared the last message she sent to her son, hours before she received the heartbreaking news that he had died in a car crash.
Rhys Dwyer’s Toyota Landcruiser collided with cattle near the Mueller Ranges in the Kimberley region of Western Australia shortly after 6am on July 3.
The 34-year-old Perth tradesman died at the scene from serious injuries on the Great Northern Highway between Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing.
The carpenter and builder, better known as Freddy James to his 11,000 followers on Instagram, was enjoying a holiday with friends when disaster struck.
Mr Dwyer was almost 500km from Broome, the next stop on his road trip.
Her mother, Allison Walker, still remembers the moment the police arrived at her door with the terrible news. She says it felt surreal.
“I didn’t believe it. I still don’t believe it,” she said 7news.com.au.
“I thought, ‘This isn’t real.’”
Rhys Dwyer (pictured with his beloved dog Koa) was seriously injured after colliding with cattle on the Great Northern Highway
“I had spoken to him the night before and said, ‘Drive carefully.'”
Mrs Walker described her son as a “vibrant” family man who loved his Rottweiler Koa, cars and travelling.
She said he would “do anything” to help everyone and that saying goodbye would be “the hardest part.”
a GoFundMe page was set up to help ease the financial burden on the family. Nearly $20,000 has been raised so far.
“Fred was doing what he loved most, touring Western Australia, but unfortunately he did not return home safely,” the page reads.
‘Fred was an exceptionally kind, loving, beautiful and adventurous soul who had so much more life ahead of him.’
The loss prompted an outpouring of sincere condolences from family and friends.
“There is a piece of my heart missing and I want it back…I love you forever,” Walker wrote on Facebook.
‘You died doing what you loved most: driving your Landcruiser and exploring the countryside.’
Mrs Walker said the ‘hardest part’ will be saying goodbye to her son (pictured) at his funeral on Friday
Another friend said: ‘I still can’t believe you’re gone, mate. You’ll be missed but never forgotten.’
A third person wrote: ‘Broken. I have no words. I love you.’
Another said: ‘I’m at a loss for words, that’s an understatement… You helped me when I was down, you pushed me to be better and you saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself… I’m definitely going to miss you, mate.’
A friend who spoke to Mr Dwyer hours before he died wrote: ‘You will be missed, bruz. Hug your loved ones tight, my mate has travelled more country miles than most. It could happen to anyone.’
Mr Dwyer’s life will be remembered at a service in Joondalup on Friday.
Police are asking anyone with information that could assist detectives, including dashcam footage, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.