Tributes flow for Wynnum student Declan Phillips, killed on his walk to school
Declan Phillips died on Wednesday after he was hit by a Mitsubishi Pajero near the notoriously low Wynnum Rail Bridge, known colloquially as the 'Duck Bridge'.
With a clearance of just 1.9 metres, it is the lowest bridge in Brisbane.
Declan was a student at nearby Wynnum State High School and played for the Wynnum Wolves Football Club.
Family friend Lisa Axam, who has started a GoFundMe page for funeral costs, said Declan died on a walk to school that he did every day.
She remembered him as a talented mathematician and woodworker, who loved camping, collecting model cars, Lego engineering and fitness.
'Declan had such a promising, bright future,' she said.
'Recently he made a camping stool out of canvas and wood and was looking forward to presenting it to his mum Lily for her birthday this weekend. He was also looking forward to making a wooden racing car in woodwork next term.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


West Australian
5 hours ago
- West Australian
Dylan Danielson: Dad's heartbreaking last words right before factory explosion killed him and his daughters
Heartbreaking details have emerged about a final phone call a man made to his wife before he and his two young daughters were tragically killed in a factory explosion. Dylan Danielson, 32, had been working at a biofuels plant in Nebraska on July 30 when a dust fire triggered a blast. His daughters, Hayven, 12, and Fayeah, eight, were waiting nearby, planning to leave with their father for a doctor's appointment once his shift ended, according to ABC . Parts of the building collapsed, which meant the family was unable to escape. Emergency services rushed to the site and coordinated a rescue operation. Approximately 24 hours after the search began, Mr Danielson's body was recovered from the scene, followed by the remains of his two daughters hours later. It has since been revealed that Mr Danielson made a heart-wrenching phone call to his wife moments right after the building collapsed, detailing where his daughters were located. 'He made a phone call to his wife and said where the girls were at, get someone in there to get them out, and he was pinned in, and there was fire all around him,' Hayven's stepfather, Robby Baker, told KMTV News . 'Our lives are in there. We need to get them out,' Mr Baker said as he waited outside the factory while crews were trying to locate his stepdaughters. Mr Danielson was looking after his daughters for the week, according to Mr Baker. 'It's his time to get them for one week, one week off. This week was his,' he said. 'His boss lets them bring them to work.' Fundraisers have now been launched to support the families of both Hayven and Fayeah, with a total of S20,995 ($AU32,293) raised. 'Hayven will always be a beautiful, goofy, caring and bright ray of sunshine who gained her angel wings too soon,' a message on GoFundMe reads. While a message on a GoFundMe for Fayeah reads: 'She had such a bubbly personality and lit up every room that she entered. She was a proud Swiftie, a devoted sister, a great friend, and a creative soul who loves fashion, crafts and art.' The investigation into the explosion is ongoing.


Perth Now
5 hours ago
- Perth Now
Dad's heartbreaking last words before family killed in blast
Heartbreaking details have emerged about a final phone call a man made to his wife before he and his two young daughters were tragically killed in a factory explosion. Dylan Danielson, 32, had been working at a biofuels plant in Nebraska on July 30 when a dust fire triggered a blast. His daughters, Hayven, 12, and Fayeah, eight, were waiting nearby, planning to leave with their father for a doctor's appointment once his shift ended, according to ABC. Parts of the building collapsed, which meant the family was unable to escape. Emergency services rushed to the site and coordinated a rescue operation. Approximately 24 hours after the search began, Mr Danielson's body was recovered from the scene, followed by the remains of his two daughters hours later. It has since been revealed that Mr Danielson made a heart-wrenching phone call to his wife moments right after the building collapsed, detailing where his daughters were located. 'He made a phone call to his wife and said where the girls were at, get someone in there to get them out, and he was pinned in, and there was fire all around him,' Hayven's stepfather, Robby Baker, told KMTV News. 'Our lives are in there. We need to get them out,' Mr Baker said as he waited outside the factory while crews were trying to locate his stepdaughters. It took over 24 hours for rescue teams to recover the remains of Fayeah (left) and Hayven (right). Credit: GoFundMe Mr Danielson was looking after his daughters for the week, according to Mr Baker. 'It's his time to get them for one week, one week off. This week was his,' he said. 'His boss lets them bring them to work.' Fundraisers have now been launched to support the families of both Hayven and Fayeah, with a total of S20,995 ($AU32,293) raised. 'Hayven will always be a beautiful, goofy, caring and bright ray of sunshine who gained her angel wings too soon,' a message on GoFundMe reads. While a message on a GoFundMe for Fayeah reads: 'She had such a bubbly personality and lit up every room that she entered. She was a proud Swiftie, a devoted sister, a great friend, and a creative soul who loves fashion, crafts and art.' The investigation into the explosion is ongoing.

Sky News AU
a day ago
- Sky News AU
Aussie teen narrowly survives horror accident in Thailand after tour boat reverses over the 13-year-old
A shocking boating accident in Thailand involving an Aussie teenager has sparked an outpouring of support from a Sydney community. Kiah Bell-Parsons, 13, was left with serious injuries after a boat reversed over her while she was swimming at a popular holiday destination in the Southeast Asian country. Family friend Gabrielle Donato told that Kiah had been onboard a tour boat near Phi Phi island with her mother, Nat, and sister before they were let off to snorkel in an area 'very busy with boats'. 'Nat was still on the during that time, another boat reversed over Kiah while she was snorkelling,' Ms Donato told the publication. Kiah suffered injnuries including a broken eye socket, a fractured skull, and a large laceration to her face. Ms Donato said there was 'so much blood' in the water following the incident. 'At that point, Nat thought (Kiah) was dead,' she told The 13-year-old was rushed to a medical facility on the island before she and her family were taken to the mainland, with Kiah eventually transported to a private hospital. 'Kiah is over there now and will be over there for quite a while until she's given clearance,' Ms Donato told the publication. A GoFundMe page has since been set up to provide the girl's family with support following the accident has been shared by Randwick netball community pages on social media. 'We would like to take a moment to acknowledge the challenging situation that Kiah Bell-Parsons and her family are facing after a recent boat accident in Thailand,' the GoFundMe page reads. The 13-year-old is a 'valued member' of the Randwick netball community, and her mother and sister have also been active in Kiah's local club, the page said. 'This is a tough time for them, and I believe that coming together as a team can provide some comfort and support,' it said. 'Your kind words and gestures can mean so much during times like these. Let's show Kiah and her family that they are not alone in this difficult journey, and that we stand with them as a united community.' The fundraiser had already raised over $28,000 as on Wednesday morning. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Smartraveller website says Thailand has introduced stricter scuba diving and snorkelling-related regulations. It advises Australians travelling to the country to question adventure tourism operators about their qualifications and safety policies.