A father-of-three has been killed after falling off an electric skateboard with his devastated family forced to face Christmas without him.
Luke Verrell, 45, had been riding his battery-powered board through Umina, on the Central Coast of NSW, to meet friends for dinner at 6pm on November 25.
Mr Verrell wasn’t wearing a helmet when he fell off the board, which can reach speeds of up to 60km/h, and was airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital with severe head injuries.
He died the following day with police seizing his skateboard, which had previously malfunctioned, and reviewing local CCTV of the incident.
His younger brother Jimmy, 38, remembered Mr Verrell as the most generous man who was a devoted dad to his three children Dylan, 25, Beau, 10, and Jemma, 6.
‘We grew up skating and it was a different time back then,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘He wouldn’t let his kids get on a board without a helmet, knee pads and wrist pads.
‘It wasn’t about being cool or anything like that, but we need to realise we are not invincible. Especially on those electric ones they go so fast.’
Luke Verrell, 45, had been riding his battery-powered board through Umina, on the Central Coast of NSW , to meet friends for dinner at 6pm on November 25
Mr Verrell had not been wearing a helmet when he fell off the board, which can reach up to 60km/h, and was airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital with severe head injuries
But invincible is exactly how Jimmy had always thought of his older brother.
He barely remembers a time growing up when Mr Verrell was not sporting an injury and even made light of it as he traveled to hospital.
‘During my childhood there was maybe only two years where he wasn’t bandaged up or injured,’ Jimmy remembered.
‘The number of times we’ve had calls that Luke is in hospital having fallen off something and then he just checks out, usually on crutches or a plaster on his arm and he is fine.’
Jimmy said his family initially didn’t think anything of it when they learned Mr Verrell had been involved in the latest accident and taken to hospital.
‘Me and his son Dylan were joking about it on the way to hospital saying, “Watch out he will be at the pub again by the weekend”,’ he said.
‘But after we arrived and the doctors told us how serious it was, reality hit like a tonne of bricks.’
Mr Verrell died the following day, but Jimmy is especially thankful that his family and friends all had time to say their goodbyes.
Luke Verrell (pictured with his daughter Jemma, 6) was a devoted father
‘There were more than 30 people in the hospital waiting room, he remembered.
‘Luke touched so many people. The number of messages I have received since has blown me away.
‘Even local taxi drivers have reached out to say he looked after them. Its honestly unbelievable the amount of mates that guy had.’
Honouring Mr Verrell’s legacy is something that’s been on Jimmy’s mind since his tragic death and he said him and his other brother Mark are taking it very seriously.
‘Luke was like a father figure he just knew how to guide and be a great sounding board. He led by example, had the best manners, was kind and protective,’ he said.
‘He was loving dad, loved them so much and wanted them to be raised right so they would be good people.
‘We are going to be there for the kids in every way that we can to teach them the same values that Luke has taught us.’
With Christmas fast approaching and electric skateboards becoming a popular gift, Jimmy has urged caution when riding one.
‘They go just as fast if you have a kid on them or a big man,’ he warned.
‘Luke’s had a malfunctioned before, he had to send it back and he only just got it again.
‘He finally found a way of going as fast as he did when he was younger, but everyone needs to wear a helmet, its just not worth the risk, even for short distances.’
Jimmy is now raising money for Luke’s funeral costs. More information can be found on his Instagram page.
