TALL ORDER FOR SUNS
LOU Aurrichio says his late son Alex spent his life pursuing his dreams and taking on the biggest challenges. Speaking to US publication Newsday from New York, Lou opened up about losing his son in an accident in Australia on Monday.
“My son was working out and getting in peak shape, like he always did, and was on his bicycle in the Darwin area when he was hit by a car,” Lou said.
“The coroner’s office confirmed that he died from severe head trauma. He was such a happy guy and halfway across the world pursuing his dream of playing professional sports.
“My son put everything he had into the pursuit of his dreams.
“The bigger the challenge, the harder he worked to succeed.
“He believed nothing worth fighting for is easy. He truly felt there was no challenge too big.
“We went to Australia three times and he showed us beautiful places with tremendous mountain views and coastlines and introduced us to all the people he knew. He loved Australia.”
Alex Aurrichio’s brother Michael recounted a moment they shared at the Great Barrier Reef.
“We went scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef and we went at night and I started to panic and said, ‘I can’t do this’,” Michael said.
“He said he wouldn’t dive without me, we needed to do it together. I collected myself and we did it.
“It was amazing. It was so dark and all we had was flashlights. The instructor said ‘stay close’ and we could go 12 metres deep.
“But my brother was fearless and pushed the limits and it seemed like he’d gone to the bottom of the ocean.
“At night all you see is sharks and he would swim right up to them and they’d swim away. I did things I would have never done but he gave me the courage to do them.”
Former Gold Coast Suns player and current Hawthorn tall Keegan Brooksby posted a touching tribute to his late friend on Instagram.
“As much as footy was the thing that brought us together, it wasn’t what defined you,” the post read.
“As much as your work ethic and desire to be the best you could be were inspiration and some times seemed crazy, it wasn’t what defined you.
“As much as you’re were a 110kg man mountain loud American from NY it wasn’t what defined you.
“What defined you was your outlook on life and the way that anyone who spent any amount of time with you was impacted.
“Cannot believe you are no longer with us … my heart goes out to the Aurrichio family and every other individual that was lucky enough to have had the pleasure. Hoorah baby!”