CHLOE’S AMAZING BRAVERY
SOLE SURVIVOR OF TRAGEDY ‘GOING BEST SHE CAN’
MATTHEW Kabealo says he is drawing inspiration from young daughter Chloe as he struggles to cope with the loss of his family.
The Bilambil chef’s wife, Stephanie King, and two children, Ella-Jane, 11, and Jacob, 7, died in April when their van skidded into the Tweed River at Tumbulgum, three days after ex-Cyclone Debbie caused record flooding in the area.
Young Chloe miraculously escaped and ran for help.
In a frank interview yesterday after receiving three cheques totalling $21,400 from RACV Royal Pines, police and Tweed Shire Council appeals, Mr Kabealo said he was “not coping” and would be “stuffed” without the support he had received.
He also asked for anyone who had been through a similar tragedy to tell him “what I’m supposed to be doing”. THE GIRL WHO LIVED “Chloe’s going the best she can,” Mr Kabealo said. “She’s 10 years old. She’s lost her mother, brother and sister. I don’t know what the protocol is for this, how a 10-year-old is going to cope with this. I don’t know.
“She’s going to a psychiatrist which is the best I can do for her. She lived it. She’s the one that escaped. She tells me more than the police would tell me. That’s it. I’ve got nothing else.
“You know, it’s only been 10 weeks. It’s still fresh. It’s still surreal. I’m trying to get my head around it.”
Mr Kabealo said if there’s anyone involved in the situation with a chance to bounce back it was his little girl.
DAY TO DAY
Mr Kabealo said only one thing has made sense out the tragedy so far: “All I know now is life’s short, and if you’ve got a family go and hug them.
“That’s my advice I can give to people.”
He said direct support from family, workmates at the Kingscliff Bowls Club, police and the broader support through multiple fundraising efforts helped get him out of bed in the morning.
Mr Kabealo and Chloe have also received $150,000 through a gofundme appeal.
“Mate, I’m not coping. I’d be stuffed without them (all) really, I wouldn’t be here.
“It’s events like this that are keeping me going. Look at the support. The whole community has been behind me.
“But I still don’t have a wife and children. It’s never going to bring that back. I just have to take it day by day.
“(The fundraising support) is going to help me pay my next week’s mortgage until I can figure out what I’m going to do with my life.
“I’m doing a little bit of work. I don’t really want to, but they’re understaffed and I owe Kingscliff a lot. They’ve really helped me.
“It’s horrible. I don’t want to do anything. I just don’t want to get out of bed. I have no desire to do anything. Ever.
“I do it because I have to not because I want to.” CALL FOR HELP After 10 weeks of emotional pain Mr Kabealo wants to talk to someone who has been in a similar position to find out if what he is feeling is normal.
“I don’t know anyone else who’s been through this or had a similar situation, it’s horrible.
“I wouldn’t mind getting in contact with them to have a chat and see where they’re at and what I’m supposed to be doing.
“No one I know knows anybody who has been through something like this.”