"Angel" killed in freak boating accident
A young mum who died in a freak boat accident that her two-year-old daughter survived has been remembered as an “angel” with a “beautiful soul”, who overcame homelessness.
Nicole Herbert, 21, of Ipswich, tragically passed way when the small boat she was in crashed into a private jerry on the Brisbane River on Wednesday.
Emergency services were called to Chelmer in Brisbane’s southwest at around 4:40 pm where it is reported Ms Herbert was thrown off the boat and hit her head on the jetty.
Her partner, Shaydon Harwood, 21, and their daughter, Kylah, 2, were also in the boat at the time but were not seriously injured.
A 46-year-old friend also managed to escape without injury.
Ms Herbert’s dad, Roger Herbert, told the Courier Mail that his daughter was a “truly remarkable person” who managed to overcome homelessness and made a life for herself.
He said he had “a wound that will never heal” and that no one would say a bad word about her.
Mr Herbert said his daughter was “full of life and caring beyond belief”.
“She really was an awesome human – she started out essentially homeless at 16 and worked her way up to where she was with her partner, Shaydon,” he told the newspaper.
Ms Herbert and her partner were high school sweethearts.
Friends have also paid their respects to an “honest sweetheart” with “no bad bone in her body”.
“You were a great friend, a great partner, a great daughter and beyond anything you are a fantastic mother,” friend Katie Sorensen posted on Facebook.
“I give my heart out to all your family in this time of need. You have lost such a beautiful soul but they have gained an even better angel, she will forever be in our hearts.”
Queensland Police are continuing to investigate the crash.