Daniel Morcombe's twin brother recalls the tragic day the schoolboy was abducted from a bus stop and murdered by a paedophile
Daniel Morcombe's twin brother has recalled the day the 13-year-old was abducted and murdered while waiting for a bus to go and buy his family Christmas presents.
Brad, 35, has fondly remembered Daniel as his 'best mate' over two decades after the schoolboy disappeared from a bus stop on Sunday December 7, 2003.
'On that hot Sunday afternoon, trouble found Daniel,' he told a new documentary into his brother's disappearance, Don't Waste It: The Daniel Morcombe Story.
'He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. We never saw him again.'
The family were finally reunited with Daniel eight years later when his remains were discovered in the Glass House Mountains in the Gold Coast hinterland in 2011.
Daniel's killer, Brett Peter Cowan, was arrested the same year and is serving a life sentence at a Brisbane correctional centre.
'When the truth finally came it was worse than we ever imagined,' Brad said.
'After eight years, Daniel wasn't coming home.'
Daniel's father, Bruce, described the arrest as 'an incredible shock and surprise, a moment not of joy - a moment you think, "Wow Daniel's not coming home".'
Brad cherishes the happy childhood memories he shared with his twin.
'He was only 13-years-old when he was abducted, just a few days before our birthday,' he said.
'He was my best mate. He loved horses and we both loved motorbikes.
'We grew up doing everything together - school, motorbikes, horses. Basically what he did, I did and vice versa.
'To outsiders he would seem like he was quiet but to us he was very boisterous, a little joker, a little mate. Just a nice kid.'
Brad said waiting to get answers into his brother's disappearance before he was found was 'torture'.
'Every phone call, every knock on the door brought a flicker of hope, that quickly faded,' he said.
The documentary was shared on Tuesday, May 6, to mark the 20th anniversary of the Daniel Morcombe Foundation.
Originally established by Daniel's parents, Bruce and Denise Morcombe, as a way to help find their son, the foundation has become one of the largest child safety operations in Australia.
Its symbol, a red t-shirt, has become a well-recognised symbol for child safety and pays tribute to the shirt Daniel wore on the day of his abduction.
Bruce explained the evolution of the foundation's mission was a way for him and his wife to cope with their grief and help other victims.
'We weren't sitting there in our sorrow,' he said.
'I can't change what's happened to Daniel but I can influence and change the future.
'I want everyone to stand tall and accept the challenge… Today is the day I tell my story. You are incredibly important in helping others. Don't waste your pain, you will help somebody else.'
The Daniel Morcombe Foundation provides child safety education, prevention, and community engagement across Australia with Bruce and Denise often conducting sessions themselves.
Over the years, the organisation has distributed more than two-million child safety resources and raised over $20million to ensure the continuation of its free programs.
With more plans for books and resources in the pipeline, the Morcombe family are determined to continue their advocacy for many years to come.
Don't Waste It: The Daniel Morcombe Story is available to watch on the Daniel Morcombe Foundation's YouTube page.
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