It has been a horrific week for 17-year-old Queensland boy Shanon Heidemann – his father's body was found after being washed away in floodwaters, while his mother and brother were killed in a car crash that also left his sister fighting for life in hospital.
It all started on Tuesday, April 4, when the car carrying the teenager's mother, 39-year-old Jane Towers, 12-year-old brother Jayjay and 14-year-old sister Khloe Heidemann was involved in a collision with a truck on the Princes Highway at Berry, south of Sydney along the New South Wales coast. Shanon's mother and brother were killed, while his sister was left in an induced coma in hospital.
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Ms Towers' sister-in-law Belinda Hartigan, who lives in Wagga Wagga, said the family was on their way down to Narooma to see the children's grandmother when the accident happened.
Ms Hartigan said David Heidemann, Shanon's father, and Ms Towers were separated, with the Queensland teenager opting to stay with his father in Mondure.
She added since his father's disappearance, Shanon had been looked after by his grandmother and the last update from hospital indicated Khloe "was doing very well", but remained in a critical condition.
On Saturday, Mr Heidemann's body was found by an SES volunteer in Barambah Creek. The 50-year-old was last seen March 30 and was reported missing from Mondure after failing to meet a friend or return home.
Ms Hartigan said Shanon helped to search for his father along with his grandmother and was "holding up" after receiving the tragic news.
"He's doing the best that he can with everything that's happening," she said.
Ms Hartigan said she had offered Shanon the opportunity to join her family, after making a promise to Ms Towers that if anything happened to her she would take care of the children.
"Jane was my little ray of sunshine ... and a beautiful soul," Ms Hartigan said.
"She was very open and welcoming to everyone and was always there if you needed her.
"When David and Jane were together, they were a lovely couple.
"The children were little angels, they always made people feel welcome."
Ms Hartigan's daughter, Sarah Towers, started a GoFund Me campaign to raise money for the three family members' funerals and Khloe's hospital bills. By Sunday afternoon, nearly $9000 had been raised by more than 170 people over three days.
"The situation is utterly devastating and it's going to be a very long road to recovery," Ms Hartigan said.
"But it's amazing to see how the country can get behind a cause."
With Kerrie O'Connor - Illawarra Mercury
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