EXCLUSIVE
A young boxer and biker friend who died of a suspected drug overdose in Vietnam was sent off at a raucous memorial service featuring luxury cars, burnouts and fireworks.
Hundreds of mourners gathered at St Agatha’s Parish in Cranbourne, in Melbourne’s south-east, on Tuesday to pay their respects to Vincent Atulia, 24, after he died on August 24 along with his friend Andrew Colivas, 25, during a boys’ trip abroad.
Vietnamese authorities are now investigating whether the pair accidentally took drugs laced with fentanyl.
Dressed in black, loved ones and friends gathered at the church at 11:30am to pay their respects to Atulia, a fighter, member of the CFMEU and convicted criminal with ties to criminal motorcycle gangs.
Vincent Atulia, 24, died last month in Vietnam
Cars were filmed performing burnouts as they left the cemetery
The monument was later decorated with a fireworks show
A source told Daily Mail Australia that several of Atulia’s ‘bikie mates’, reportedly members of the Comanchero, were among those attending Tuesday’s service.
Videos of the memorial service posted online show mourners holding blue balloons forming a guard of honor in the church driveway as pallbearers carry Atulia’s white coffin to a hearse.
Escorted by a procession of motorcycles and luxury cars – including Harley Davidsons, Mercedes and Lamborghinis with license plates reading ‘GUILTY’ and ‘ANGRY’ – the hearse then drove to the cemetery, where it was lowered into the ground.
As we left to go to the vigil, several cars could be seen burning the road, sending plumes of smoke into the air.
Another video taken later that night showed fireworks being set off in honor of Atulia. A friend wrote, “What a send-off this was for you.”
But as friends gather to say goodbye, one of Atulia’s friends is still stuck abroad.
At the time of their deaths, Atulia and Colivas were on holiday with a group of friends, including three other Australians, and were receiving support from the Department of Foreign Affairs following the tragedy.
DFAT said in a statement on Wednesday that it was now supporting just one Australian trapped in Vietnam.
According to the Herald Sun, the other two men have flown abroad in recent days after being unable to leave following the deaths of Atulia and Colivas.
Online fundraisers for the families of the two deceased men have raised more than $100,000. Atulia describes him as a God-fearing family man.
“Most who knew Vincent knew that family and God were always the central purpose of everything he did in his short life,” it read.
“He gave his life to provide for and protect his beloved family.”
Friends and family are seen laying Vincent Atulia to rest on Tuesday
Atulia is pictured with Andrew Colivas, 25, who also died during the trip
Bemir Saracevic (center) is seen with his fellow Comancheros Allan Meehan (left) and Tarek Zahed (right)
But last month, Daily Mail Australia revealed that Atulia and Colivas were convicted criminals who had all faced a range of charges in recent years, including drug and violence charges.
In June 2020, Atulia was involved in a shooting at a house in Ferntree Gully, along with a group of men including Rebels biker Scott Rye.
Atulia also followed several underworld figures on social media, including senior Comanchero Bemir Saracevic, who was among the largest donors to his GoFundMe.
Despite their pasts with the law, both men are described by family members as “very religious.” After his funeral, a tribute to Atulia circulated online, describing him as a “true son of God.”
Colivas was sent off in a separate ceremony on Monday at St Peter & Irene Orthodox Church in Hawthorn East.