Australian parents pay emotional tribute to surfers killed in Mexico
The parents of two Australian brothers killed in Mexico during a suspected carjacking have spoken for the first time. Debra and Martin Robinson mourned the deaths of their sons Callum, 33, and Jake, 30, who were avid surfers, passionately pursuing their love for the ocean.
Their sons’ friend, American Jack Carter Rhoad, 30 was also killed. Authorities in Mexico are expected to charge a Mexican man with the murders, with additional charges of “forced disappearance” already filed in connection with the incident. Another man and a woman are in custody but have not yet been formally charged.
The murders happened on 27 April when the three friends vanished during a surfing and camping trip near Ensenada, sparking a frantic search. The search concluded with the discovery of their bodies in a cliffside well on Friday. Local authorities confirmed that each man had suffered fatal gunshot wounds to the head. Officials from Baja California state indicated that the tourists likely lost their lives while attempting to thwart the theft of their pickup truck’s tyres. Additionally, a fourth body was found in the well, unrelated to the case.
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After travelling from Perth to identify her sons’ bodies in Mexico, Mrs Robinson said: “Now it’s time to bring them home to family and friends and the ocean waves in Australia.”
Fighting back tears, she spoke about her family’s pride at the lives Callum and Jake had built. Callum had been living in the US, chasing his dream of becoming a professional lacrosse player, but always found time to coach junior teams, she said.
“[He] was a lovable, larger-than-life character… known as the big koala.”
And Jake – a doctor – was “a happy, gentle and compassionate soul”.
“Jake’s passion was surfing and it was no coincidence that many of the hospitals that he worked in were close to surfing beaches,” she added.
@theageaustralia The parents of two Australian brothers shot dead in Mexico have spoken publicly for the first time, saying from the US it was time to bring their sons home. Debra and Martin Robinson have urged people to hold their loved ones closer following the tragic murder of their sons. #news #mexico #surfing