Heartbroken community members have raised almost $10,000 in just five hours for a teenager fighting for his life with his girlfriend in hospital after a tragic boat accident.
Kobi Bennett, 19, was hospitalized with serious injuries after a boating accident in Pittwater Sydney‘s North Beaches, on Sunday.
The tragic incident killed his German girlfriend Kassandra Muhr, 20, who also went by the nickname Kaysy.
An online fundraiser for 19-year-old boating victim Kobi Bennett (above) raised nearly $10,000 in just five hours
Kassandra Muhr (above) was killed in a tragic boat accident on Sydney’s northern beaches on Sunday, which also left her boyfriend Mr Bennett with serious head injuries
A GoFundMe was launched on Tuesday to support Mr Bennett and his family in his recovery.
“Our small, close-knit community of Pittwater was struck deep in our hearts this week by a terrible, tragic accident that resulted in beautiful young Kaysy leaving us and the love of her life, Kobi Bennett, in the hospital with significant injuries,” it says in the fund description reads.
“Kobi and Kaysy, a pair of young boating enthusiasts, bonded over their love of water and boats as they blazed their trails and lived their dreams.
“A talented apprentice shipbuilder with a beautiful soul, Kobi is a fun, determined and generous young man.”
Community members described Mr. Bennett in the online fundraiser as “a talented apprentice shipbuilder with a beautiful soul, a funny, determined, big-hearted young man.”
According to GoFundMe, Mr. Bennett has always been willing to help the community.
“Kobi is always raising his hand and showing up to anyone in his community who needs help. Now it’s time to give Kobi all the love and support we can muster,” the statement said.
“A portion of the funds raised will be credited to Kaysy’s family to create a memorial and pay for her travel expenses to Australia or any required repatriation for Kaysy.
“Our hearts are broken and Kobi needs us now.”
Locals in the area said they heard a loud “bang” followed by cries for help at the time of the couple’s crash on Sunday.
Mrs. Muhr and Mr. Bennett traveled in separate small boats.
Ms Muhr settled in Sydney about three years ago after coming to Australia from Germany for a short holiday
Paramedics were pulled down from a helicopter around 7pm on Sunday to reach the dark and remote crash site near Elvina Bay.
They found Ms Muhr unconscious in her boat and were unable to revive her.
Mr Bennett was rushed to the Royal North Shore Hospital with serious head injuries, where he is in serious but stable condition.
Marine Area Command NSW Police Commander Detective Superintendent Murray Reynolds said Ms Muhr and Mr Bennett’s boats were impounded after the crash.
“The investigation is still ongoing, but there is evidence that the ships collided,” he told reporters Monday morning.
The couple’s two small boats (one above) were impounded after the crash, and police said they will investigate the possibility of a race between the couple
“We have yet to understand exactly what happened, but the ships may have been going in opposite directions.”
Police said they will also investigate whether a possible race between the couple or alcohol played a role in the crash.
Det Insp Reynolds said the crash site was “extremely dark” by 7 p.m.
“It’s a tragedy, it’s terrible circumstances,” he said.
Ms Muhr was restoring a yacht (above) before the tragic accident and joked a few days before that she had managed to fit navigation lights on her small boat
NSW Ambulance’s Christine Marks said emergency services were struggling to reach the remote scene in front of the famous Ku-Ring Gai National Park.
“This was a major mobilization of emergency services in very difficult circumstances – pitch black, over cold water, in a very inaccessible place,” she said.
“Our aeromedical team did a really good job accessing the patient given the circumstances.
“(The man) suffered multiple cuts and bruises on his face and legs, which paramedics administered pain treatment to.
“I’m sorry this case turned out so tragically.”
Ms Muhr’s devastated mother, Romana Muhr, said the 20-year-old only planned to visit Australia for a short holiday about three years ago but “fell in love” with the country and settled on Sydney’s northern beaches settled down.
“She left her soul in Australia, a place she really loved,” Ms. Muhr said.
Mr Bennett was flown off his boat by paramedics in a rescue helicopter during the long-distance rescue on Sunday
Ms Muhr loved boats and documented on Instagram a yacht conversion she owned alongside a small runabout boat where she dubbed herself the Pittwater Pirate.
“Ahoy my fellow pirates. I thought as a girl with a huge passion for boats and the ocean as well as fixing things, it might be fun to watch the remodeling on my 28ft yacht Eric,” she wrote.
Ms Muhr, who is in Germany with Ms Muhr’s two sisters, is reportedly preparing for a trip to Australia.
Ms Muhr’s mother said her daughter left her soul in Australia, a place she really loved, adding Ms Muhr wanted her family to visit her so she could show them why she was “falling in love with Australia”. have.
“I wasn’t really happy that Kaysy stayed in Australia, but she was really happy and made good friends,” Ms Muhr said.
She added her daughter is trying to convince her family to visit her abroad so she can show them why she “fell in love with Australia”.
Just days before her fatal crash, Ms Muhr posted on her Instagram page that she was adding lights to her small boat.
“For what it’s worth. Having never actually had any, I figured it was time to invest in some navigation lights without the risk of getting caught every night. There’s more wiring to do, but at least they’re in,” she wrote on July 10.
