The man who died following a tree-pruning incident in Oak Bay on Tuesday has been identified in a fundraiser and through pictures at the makeshift memorial at the site.
Eddie Mather, who is from Australia, died while working to remove a Garry Oak tree on McNeill Ave near Byng Street. He was working with a tree-trimming crew at the time.
A fundraiser on the Australian site mycause, called Bring Eddie Home, shows pictures of Mather. It has surpassed its goal of $30,000.
A photo of Eddie Mather (mycause)
A photo of Eddie Mather (mycause)
Photos of Eddie Mather seen at the memorial of the Oak Bay tree pruning incident.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we create this page for such a beautiful friend, brother and son. Eddie Mather’s unexpected, and tragic passing has devastated anyone whose lives he touched. His undeniably positive energy, beaming smile and thirst for life will be forever missed by those who had the pleasure of knowing him,” the fundraiser reads.
As if this loss could be any more difficult on the people closest to Eddie, his family now need to liaise with funeral coordinators across two countries to try and bring Eddie home to Australia. We’re asking for everyone’s help to donate anything they can, to help ease the financial burden on his family in order to bring Eddie home.
Thank you to everyone who has donated at this stage. We appreciate it so much, as do the Mather family. As there’s clearly a wide audience who have been touched by Eddie and want to help his family, we’ll keep pushing the target until we know for certain all expenses are covered.”
WorkPlace BC, the BC Coroners’ Service and Saanich police are all investigating the incident.
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