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The NRL community, friends and family have all rallied around Billy Slater after the Queensland icon’s family tragedy.
The Mackay region has been left devastated after it emerged on Tuesday that Slater’s brother-in-law Ryan Craig drowned while saving his daughter’s life when she fell from their boat in Queensland last weekend.
Craig, the husband of Slater’s older sister Sheena, died in Kinchant Dam near Mackay on Saturday.
The nine-year-old girl was pulled safely from the water but Craig’s body was not found until Monday morning.
Police say the girl was pulled from the water by a person on a passing jet ski. The mother and three other children all safely made it to shore.
Craig, 40, was a father of four children with wife Sheena.
NRL legend Cameron Smith was one of the figures to show public support for his former Melbourne Storm teammate.
Smith on Wednesday said his former Melbourne Storm teammate shared with him that it was an “absolutely tragic” situation.
Smith and co-host Denan Kemp, started their show, The Captain’s Run with Cameron Smith and Denan Kemp, by sending their condolences to Slater and his family.
“Really, really sad story,” Smith said.
“I found out Monday morning about this absolute tragedy. It happened Saturday afternoon up in the Mackay area where Billy’s sister Sheena and her family live.
“They were just out on the water. They live very close to the dam where Ryan tragically passed away. And it’s their regular place where they just go for family outings.
“I rang Billy and spoke with him and he just said, ‘Look, it’s an absolutely tragic (set of) circumstances, given the situation’.
“It’s somewhere they spend a lot of time with the kids growing up. They’ve got four kids. They’ve got four little girls. They were out on the water and just a sequence of events really led to Ryan and his eldest daughter falling in the water and unfortunately, a bit of weather blew up and it blew the boat away from where they’d fallen in the water and the boat couldn’t be started.
“It was a heroic effort, really from Ryan to stay a float as long as he did to save his daughter.
“He eventually ran out of energy. Some jet skiers came along a little bit later and I don’t know how — it’s just a miracle — that the little girl was still afloat.
“Ryan went under and subsequently passed away. Really tragic events and we send our condolences out to Sheena, who is Billy’s sister, and the wife of Ryan. Those four little girls that have lost their dad.”
Police have confirmed the body was located around 7am on Monday.
Inspector Glenn Cameron earlier said preliminary information led police to believe Craig’s actions saved his daughter’s life.
“Our thoughts are with the family who’ve lost a loved one in these tragic circumstances,” he said.
“We never want to see something like this happen.”
He said the Craig family is “devastated”.
Senior sergeant Trevor Robson said: “Obviously (the family) is very upset about what’s happened and we can only imagine the trauma they’re going through. You wouldn’t wish it on your worst enemy.”
Friends of the Craig family have also sent public messages to the family.
As first reported by The Courier-Mail, Dean Tass wrote on Facebook: “Man had some good times and laughs out at the bay. Those chats that started off serious but ended up in tears of laughter because we went off topic.
“My heart is sore for you and your whole family mate.”
Friend of the family Crystal Edwards wrote that “he was a loving husband, a devoted father and a great friend”.
Scott Jorgensen, another friend of Ryan’s, wrote that he will remember Ryan as “a man who fiercely loved his family and friends”, a sentiment that was echoed by many of those who knew Craig.
The Melbourne Storm also issued a brief public comment.
“Melbourne Storm sends their deepest condolences to Billy and the entire Slater Family through this difficult time. The entire Purple Army stands by your side, always,” the football club wrote on Twitter.
In responses to the post Storm fans sent their condolences to the family with many shocked to find out what had happened.
One Storm fan wrote: “Thoughts and prayers to Billy and the whole extended Slater family at this very sorrowful time – Bless!!”
Another wrote: “Thoughts with the Slater family at this toughest of times.”
“I send my condolences to the Slater family, and I hope they are doing OK during this difficult time. I’m thinking of you,” wrote a third.
The Craig family are from North Eton in Mackay. Queensland police will prepare a report for the coroner.
Slater grew up in Innisfail, around 90km south of Cairns in Queensland.
Slater won two premierships with the Melbourne Storm and has successfully transitioned into coaching, leading the Queensland Maroons to consecutive State of Origin series wins in the past two years.
He played 31 games for the Maroons and 30 matches for Australia.
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