Loved dad was Mr Fixit
FAMILY MOURN CARING MAN WHO DIED IN CRASH
TO his daughters, there was nothing their dad Mike Hellier couldn’t fix.
But in the days after his sudden death, their hearts are broken, and their father isn’t here to put them back together.
Mr Hellier, 59, has been remembered as a “no nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is” man in the days after he was killed in a motorcycle crash near Mackay.
The Townsville father-of-five was riding with his 11-year-old daughter Samantha on the back when the bike and a ute collided on Sugarshed Rd on Saturday.
Paramedics were called and fought to save Mr Hellier, but he died in hospital at Mackay.
His daughter was flown to Townsville University Hospital with serious injuries.
Samantha had surgery on Sunday and remains in a critical but stable condition.
Her mum, Amanda Hellier, has remained by her daughter’s bedside as she recovers.
Mrs Hellier’s sister, Pixie Gerber, spoke on behalf of the family in the days after Mr Hellier’s death, describing him as a loving and hilarious dad. “He was the master of perfectly timed inappropriate jokes – the kind that would lead to water coming out of noses at the dinner table because you couldn’t help but snort,” Ms Gerber said.
Mr Hellier served in the South African Navy as a submariner for 18 years.
He loved his job, and was proud to tell people about his career.
It was in the navy that he qualified as an electrician, which he continued to do after his time in uniform and up until his death.
Before moving to Australia, he was an avid horserider and competed in equestrian and endurance racing. It was through his love of horses that he met wife of 22 years, Amanda.
They married in 1999, “despite his dry and inappropriate humour”, and moved to Australia in 2006 and then north to Townsville in 2010.
They had three daughters, Caitlyn, and twins Samantha and Kimberley, who are missing their dad dearly.
Mr Hellier also had two other daughters in a previous marriage, Laura and Jessica.
“He was a strict but loving father who always tried to explain how things work.
“Kimberly says that she will miss his big strong hugs the most.
“His daughter Caitlyn used to think that Bob the Builder was based on him, because there is nothing that he couldn’t fix.”
Mr Hellier was also well established in the diving community, loved to be outdoors, and will be dearly missed by his colleagues.
The Forensic Crash Unit are investigating the cause of the crash, and has called for anyone who may have witnessed it to come forward to police.