PEDRO’S TRAGIC LAST RIDE
Devoted husband and father-of-two killed in Darwin motorbike crash
THE Darwin music scene is in mourning for sound technician “Pedro” Swift, who was killed in a motorcycle crash on Tiger Brennan Drive yesterday morning.
He died when his bikecrashed into a traffic bollard near the Woolner Rd intersection.
Emergency services were first alerted to the incident by a man who spotted the driverless motorbike lying on the road.
Shortly after, Pedro’s body was found by a taxi driver, about 100m away from his bike.
The 43-year-old was a stalwart of the Darwin live music circuit, working at venues across the city. He had knocked off work at the Hotel Darwin and was on his way home when he died about 2.15am.
Friends told the Sunday Territorian he was thrilled to return to his favourite venue, The Chippo, scheduled to reopen in two months.
Chippo owner Rod Fitzgerald said Pedro was an “absolutely incredible character”, who left behind a devastated wife and two children.
“He was just an extraordinary individual who managed to understand how the music world rocked,” he said.
“He was full of life and full of energy and one of those guys you gravitated to.
“He was an in your face, realistic person; you either loved him or hated him but everyone loved him.”
The Chippo is due to reopen in seven weeks, but Mr Fitzgerald said it would be a different place without Pedro behind the sound deck. “It’s such a loss for us at The Chippo and for the NT,” he said. “We’re beside ourselves.”
Mr Fitzgerald said he would pay tribute to his friend with a mural at The Chippo, right behind Pedro’s place at the sound deck.
Pedro’s friends gathered on a Darwin balcony together yesterday afternoon to toast their mate.
“We’re having a bottle of wine and shots and rejoicing his life,” Mr Fitzgerald said.
Hotel Darwin audio supplier “Boogie” said his colleague was “one of a kind”, who was passionate about live music, particularly metal.
“He was a bit of a rock god. The bands will really miss him,” he said. “He was one of the best Darwin blokes you could meet.”
Boogie said Pedro adored his family.
“I know he loved life, I know he loved his missus and his kids. He’d do anything for them,” he said.
Territory Police Duty Superintendent Brendan Muldoon said it hadn’t been determined whether the setup of the traffic diversion contributed to the crash. “It’s difficult to say the cause of the accident at this stage but when there are roadworks and traffic directions changing the conditions of the road, motorists need to take that into consideration when they’re travelling around Darwin,” he said.
“It’s such a loss for us at The Chippo and for the NT. We’re beside ourselves”