Rural Fire Service boss Shane Fitzsimmons has delivered an emotional message to the widow of fallen volunteer firefighter Sam McPaul at his funeral service today.
“Our hearts are breaking with you,” a visibly moved Mr Fitzsimmons said before presenting Megan with the Commissioner’s Commendation for Service and Bravery.
Sam died on December 30 at Jingellic, about 110km east of Albury in NSW, when the 10-tonne truck he was in was flipped on its roof by extreme winds in a freak weather event described as a “fire tornado”.
The 28-year-old and his crew had been battling the mammoth Green Valley fire when the accident occurred.
“It’s so difficult to comprehend the loss of Sam and none of us can be in your shoes at this difficult time,” Mr Fitzsimmons said to Megan, who is pregnant with the couple’s first child, at the funeral in Sam’s hometown of Holbrook.
“Sam was a remarkable young man who lost his life as a hero in his local community and I think the sentiments of that are reflected in the enormity of the gathering here today.
“I most sincerely say thank you – thank you for sharing Sam with so many, thank you for sharing Sam with us in the Rural Fire Service.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison and NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian joined family and friends on Friday to farewell Sam in an emotional service held on his local basketball court.
He was a representative basketball player in Wagga Wagga and coached the sport in Holbrook, and worked as a mechanic.
A large number of emergency service personnel, including fellow volunteer firefighters in the Holbrook area, were also in attendance.
Mr McPaul was the third NSW volunteer firefighter to die this bushfire season.
Geoffrey Keaton, 32, and Andrew O’Dwyer, 36, died on December 19 when a tree hit their tanker as they were travelling southwest of Sydney.
This afternoon in South Australia, a father and son who died while fighting a ferocious bushfire on Kangaroo Island on January 3 were also farewelled.
Famed outback pilot Dick Lang, 78, and his son Clayton, 43, an Adelaide plastic surgeon, were killed helping others battle the blaze that tore through the west of the island, burning most of the Flinders Chase National Park.
The pair were returning to a family property when their vehicle became engulfed in flames.
Kynan Lang – a lieutenant in the army who assisted in emergency bushfire efforts on Kangaroo Island – has spoken of how his uncle and cousin died trying to protect the community they loved.
“This was their passion … they loved coming here and being a part of the island,” he said.
Kynan visited the site where the men perished on Tuesday to erect two white crosses in their honour.
This afternoon, planes flew over an Adelaide chapel where a private funeral service was held.
A well-known adventurer, Dick was a bush pilot who opened the outback to tourism before embarking on tours and safaris across the world.
Clayton was a renowned Adelaide plastic surgeon, specialising in reconstructive hand surgery.
With AAP
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