A keen rock climber has died in his wife's arms after a freak accident in Canada's Rocky Mountains.
Daniel Heritage, 28, had been married to wife Emma for just four years when their trip of a lifetime took a tragic turn on Wednesday 5 October.
Heartbroken wife Emma shared her grief on Facebook in a heartfelt post describing Daniel as 'the love of her life'. She wrote: "You were my best friend, love of my life and adventure buddy.
Advert
"Thank you for bringing so much joy into my life and helping me realize that I was more capable than I think.
"Thank you for inviting me into your world where anything was possible and each day was an opportunity for a new adventure.
"My heart longs for you and I’d do anything to be slow dancing to our wedding song, joking around together, exploring the world or sitting in silence reading books/movies together."
Advert
She continued: "Whilst I am upset about no longer having the opportunity to grow old together, I feel privileged to have known you.
"You were the best husband I could have ever asked for and whilst I don’t know what the future looks like for me at the moment, I do know that you had a great last few months."
"You were dearly loved by so many people who had just met you and those lucky enough to have known you for many years. I love you now and forever. Your wife, Emma."
Advert
The pair were just two months into their holiday that saw them head to Calgary from their home in Australia's Adelaide. The pair were on their adventure trip, which Daniel previously described on LinkedIn as being able to "pursue hobbies and passion projects that [he hadn’t] previously had the opportunity to".
He added: "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."
Wife Emma is still in Canada being comforted by friends the pair made on their trip, but her family in Australia have now launched a GoFundMe page to help raise money for funeral costs and to send a family member to be with Emma.
Advert
Emma’s twin sister, Jessica Bartel, wrote on the GoFundMe page: "The death was very traumatic for Emma as she witnessed the accident and held him in her arms as he passed.
"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."
She continued: "We would greatly appreciate any support to help ease the financial costs associated with travelling so suddenly and to support the families with funeral costs and other expenses."
Topics: World News
Niamh Spence