An Australian man on the trip of a lifetime with his wife has died in tragic circumstances while exploring Canada.
Daniel Heritage and his wife Emma, both avid rock climbers, were in Calgary when he had a “tragic accident” that took his life on October 5.
Mrs Heritage’s twin sister Jessica started a GoFundMe to help raise funds for funeral costs associated with her brother-in-law’s death, as well as to assist with the family’s travel to Canada.
“The death was very traumatic for Emma as she witnessed the accident and held him in her arms as he passed,” Ms Bartel wrote in the post.
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“As Emma is still in Canada (currently staying with friends she met on her travels), we desperately desire to send up a family member from Australia to be with her to support her in her grief and to help bring her and her husband home.”
Ms Bartel said “any support” would be “greatly appreciated” and asked for loved ones to “pray for Emma” as she navigates this “lifelong grief”.
Almost $25,000 has been raised, which is beyond the $10,000 goal originally set on the page.
It is understood the pair took time off work to fulfil the trip, with Mr Heritage posting to social networking platform LinkedIn that he wanted to “pursue hobbies and passion projects that [he hadn’t] previously had the opportunity to”.
“This includes rock climbing in the Canadian Rockies, becoming a more proficient skier, building on my photography skills, and by the end of this trip I aim to have lead-climbed a frozen waterfall,” Mr Heritage wrote in March.
Tributes are flowing for Mr Heritage, from Adelaide, who had celebrated his fourth wedding anniversary while abroad.
Ms Bartel told Adelaide’s The Advertiser her brother-in-law had a big heart and always “cared for others”.
“He felt like my brother way before they got married,” Ms Bartel told The Advertiser.
“One thing I loved most about him was the way he cared for others.
“You always felt heard by him.”
Friend Melissa said the loss was “hard to put into words”.
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“It’s hard to put into words how much this hurts, how much you will be missed, how cruel life can be,” she wrote.
“Daniel was living a dream adventure with his wonderful wife and now we need to help bring him home and help Emma with whatever life throws her from now on.
“Miss you forever Danny Heritage.”
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