WITHIN minutes of Lachlan Burgess coming off his skateboard in a fatal and tragic accident, the raw emotion from family and friends who rushed to the scene was on display.
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Yesterday, at a private prayer service at Mater Dei Catholic College, dozens of teenagers hugged each other as they arrived and sobbing family members met with college principal Greg Miller.
Acting as spokesman for the family, which he says is still struggling to cope with the tragic loss of 17-year-old son Lachlan, Mr Miller spoke of a popular young man who was looking forward to beginning year 12.
“(The family) is struggling, they are struggling, but they are finding a lot of strength from within themselves,” he said.
“Questions about the fairness of this will be asked ... by all of us at different times, unfortunately.”
Lachlan is the youngest of four children in the well-known Burgess family, which has a successful excavation business in the city.
His eldest brother yesterday made the trip from Brisbane to Wagga to be with his family, which is now making funeral arrangements.
Mourners wrote “RIP Lachy Burgess” on the side of the road where he died and flowers and a note reading “Dear Locky, always remembered and never forgotten” were tied to a street sign.
Lachlan’s uncle, Brian Burgess, arrived at the scene of the accident to comfort his immediate family, which he described as in a “terrible” state.
The college has rallied behind the Burgess family, and is also offering full support to the family of the 17-year-old boy who was allegedly driving the car which towed Lachlan along.
Mr Miller described Lachlan as a highly regarded student who had taken great leaps at school in the past year and had settled in well with the rigours of study.
“He was doing a couple of VET courses in construction and metals engineering, probably (with) an idea to be hands on,” he said.
“He did have an offer of an apprenticeship, but wanted to remain at school to be with friends and have his year 12 here.”
Mr Miller also recalled a young man who was an avid touch football fan and had a great love for skateboarding.
The college has four counsellors on board to provide support for students when school returns, and Mr Miller expects further measures will be put in place. “They (the kids) are understandably upset, and there is a lot of care that needs to be taken with them, especially with the start of the school year not too far away.”