’Heartbreak’ as popular bike rider is laid to rest Farewell to a mate
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FAMILY and friends gathered in Townsville on Tuesday to farewell a young man tragically killed in a crash last month.
Paramedics fought to save 19-year-old Byron Farnell’s life after a motorcycle crash at Douglas in the early hours of Sunday, February 21.
Despite their efforts he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at hospital.
Police say Byron and a friend were riding along Riverside Boulevard with Byron on a bike and his friend in pillion position when the bike left the road and hit a tree about 1.15am.
The pillion rider, also 19, was taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries.
Rodney Brennan, a family friend and the father of one of Byron’s friends, has opened up about the devastating loss and described parenting as the “worst” and “greatest” privilege in the world.
“We watched our son say goodbye to his best mate,” he said.
Mr Brennan said the pair had been friends since primary school but now, at the age of 20 and faced with attending the funeral of his best friend, his young son’s eyes were filled with pain.
“I could see it in his eyes as well as in the eyes of all his mates … pain,” he said.
“It was heartbreaking to watch from the moment he woke up and through the entire service I just wanted to take his pain away but I can’t, no one can.
“They say time heals the pain but you have to wonder.
“Hug your loved ones, squeeze your kids hard and let them know you love them.”
Officers from the
Forensic Crash Unit are still investigating what led up to the crash.