When tragedy strikes in paradise

FOR Australians overseas tragedy seems so often to strike in the most beautiful locations.

Such was the experience of Perth businessman Roger Hussey who plummeted to his death while parasailing in Phuket, Thailand.

As we reveal today, Geelong man Peter Murrihy and daughter Keeley had a prominent role in the aftermath of the accident.

Two notable things emerge from their account of what occurred.

Firstly, just how shoddy the parasailing operation was, and how slipshod their reaction to the fall, and the broader reaction including that of the Thai medical authorities.

Given the circumstances of Mr Hussey’s death it is natural that questions arose about the operators of the parasailing business and their safety standards.

But the Murrihys’ observations add new detail that is chilling.

It is the stuff of being involved in a nightmare but being a long way from the first rate services and comfort of home.

The second thing that emerges from the Murrihys’ account is the nobility and compassion of their actions.

Mr Hussey was a stranger to them but they went to the immediate aid of their fellow Australian.

And they helped not just on the beach in the immediate aftermath of the fall, where many would think their ability and obligation to help starts and ends.

They followed the ambulance to the hospital where they found medics unsuccessfully trying to revive Mr Hussey in a corridor.

Even after all hope was lost their sense of duty to the dead man was exceptional — making what must have been a very hard phone call to inform relatives back in Australia.

If there is a silver lining to such a tragic story it is this.

Halfway across the world two residents of our city took it upon themselves to extend a helping hand to a man and a family in desperate need.