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Emotional tributes paid to Adam Nicolai

Posted on September 30, 2008, 5:05pm and updated on October 1, 2008 at 12:03 pm

Justin Hellyer and Adam Nicolai

Justin Hellyer and Adam Nicolai

Emotional tributes have flowed to honour the memory of Adam Nicolai (pictured right), whose body was recovered on Monday off the Yorke Peninsula.

Adam’s devastated parents have told of their son’s love for the sea.

And friends of Adam have left tribute messages for their “good mate” online at The Border Watch.

Adam’s mother Jenny and father Andrew said they were grief stricken over the tragic loss of their much-loved son.

Adam’s body was found in an oyster lease about three kilometres from where the boat sank in the Gulf St Vincent.

Mr Nicolai paid tribute to his son.

“He always loved the sea. When he was introduced to water as a baby he was like a fish in the sea,” said Mr Nicolai, who flew to Adelaide from Mount Gambier yesterday to be with grieving family members.

“He has fished all over Australia, including tuna fishing, shark net fishing and even long line fishing at Darwin.

“Even when he had a day off from his fishing job, he would still disappear for a number of hours and go fishing — that’s how much he loved it.

“Fishing was in his blood.”

Adam’s mother Jenny described her son, who had two children, as a wonderful person who made “friends wherever he went”.

“He was a lovable larrikan. He would do anything for his family and friends; we were very proud of him,” Jenny said.

While conceding she did worry about him being at sea, she said it was important she allowed Adam to follow his dreams.

“You would always worry, but you knew he loved it and you can’t take away something that someone loves,” Jenny said.

She said her son was planning to obtain a skipper’s licence.

She said Adam would be sadly missed by all his family and friends.

Ryan Crute said Adam would be incredibly missed and never forgotten.

“I couldn’t count how many times we have gone fishing, drank beers, told crazy stories and had many laughs together,” Ryan wrote.

“Anyone who was a part of his life would know how unique he was, no one could ever measure up to him.”

Michael Gordon said Adam was a great fisherman who taught many others about fishing.

“Adam was loved by many people in many ways. He will never be replaced and every person who has met Adam will have a great story to tell,” Michael wrote.

Meanwhile, the devastated family of missing man Justin Hellyer (pictured left) were hoping he might be miraculously found, despite authorities having called off the search.

His Mount Gambier-based family was heading to the Yorke Peninsula to “pay their respects”.

“We can’t accept he is gone,” an emotional family member told The Border Watch.

Snr Sgt David Roy, who was coordinating the search effort at the Yorke Peninsula, said police helicopters continued to scour the area yesterday, but the search was called off following advice that the possibility of Justin being alive was “virtually impossible”.

He said medical advice given to police indicated that a person could not survive in those waters for that period of time.

“The intensive sea and air search was ceased at the end of light on Monday … I have no doubt that if he was out there (still alive) we would have found him,” Snr Sgt Roy said.

He said a report would now be compiled for the Coroner on both Justin and Adam Nicolai, whose body was recovered on Monday after their boat sank in the Gulf St Vincent.

SANDRA MORELLO & MICHAEL GOREY

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Comments

8 Responses to “Emotional tributes paid to Adam Nicolai”

  1. Ryan Crute on September 30th, 2008 7:56 pm 1

    I’m so sorry to hear the tragedy of our good mate. He will be incredibly missed and never forgotten.

    I couldn’t count how many times we have gone fishing, drank beers, told crazy stories and had many laughs together. Anyone who was a part of his life would know how unique he was, no one could ever measure up to him.

    He was truly one of kind who will always have a place in my heart. Best mates nickers will never forget you bro.

  2. Michael Gordon on September 30th, 2008 8:51 pm 2

    I have been a best friend to Adam all of his life and I’ve seen everything great Adam has done in his lifetime.

    Not only was Adam a great fisherman but he also taught me and many others a lot about fishing; he also introduced fishing to many families; he was phenomenal.

    Adam was loved by many people in many ways. He will never be replaced and every person who has met Adam will have a great story to tell.

    All my condolences to Adam’s and Justin’s families.

    You will be greatly missed. I will forever remember all the great times we had.

    R.I.P my friend, your mate gooney.

  3. Nikki Bailey on October 1st, 2008 4:27 pm 3

    Nickers was my partner and will be deeply missed by all of our family and friends, He had a great heart and would anything he could for his mates.

    I will always remember you and all the good times that we have had.

    Adam was a great friend of many. He went down with pride doing everything he loved and everything he could to help a mate.

    We will miss you, you will always be in our hearts xx

    Nikki

    p.s.

    I’ll keep bringing you drinks. =)

  4. Dieter Fischer on October 2nd, 2008 11:50 am 4

    I didn’t even know there was a storm around on Sunday night. How can a healthy 28 years old die so easily?

    Why do they need sonar equipment to locate the boat? Isn’t St Vincent Gulf relatively shallow?

  5. Lisa on October 2nd, 2008 11:54 pm 5

    I know a lot of people knew Nickers a lot more then i did … but from what I saw he was a great guy and he didn’t deserve to die like that at all.

    He was young and he had a family. Why did he have to be taken away like that? It was such a shock to be told about the news about Nickers.

    I pass on my condolences to Adam’s and Justin’s families and hope that Justin is found.

    xoxo We will miss you two heaps and you will always be in our hearts.

  6. Dean Watson on October 4th, 2008 2:49 pm 6

    It was a shock to me when Gooney rang me last Monday to tell me the bad news about our truly great friend in Nickers. It was so hard to come to terms with hearing it because he would be the last person that you would ever think that would leave us.

    We have so many good memories of him and all the boys will miss him because he would always have a funny story every time you saw him or spoke to him.

    He will be sadly missed and we will always be thinking of him, one of your best mates and fishing mates that will miss all the fun we had together.

    Rest In Peace mate and will always be thinking of you, your good mate, Wato.

  7. Michael Gordon on October 9th, 2008 4:53 pm 7

    There will be an Adam Nicolai memorial fishing competition held at Livingstons Beach (between Blackfellows Caves and Pelican Point) on October 18.

    There will be prizes and trophies to be won on the day along with a free sausage sizzle for lunch.

    The competition starts at 10am and finishes at 2pm. There will be a break for lunch at 12 noon and then back to fishing at 12.30 with presentations at 2.15pm.

    All are welcome, great day to bring the family down to show them the life Adam loved and a great time to think of all the wonderful times we have had with Adam.

    There is a kids prize section so bring the kids along for a fish.

    If you need more information about this event feel free to contact:
    Michael Gordon 0439872529
    Ryan Crute 0402865023

    I hope to see you there.

  8. Nikki Bailey on October 10th, 2008 2:42 am 8

    I created a lifestory for adam if anyone wants to have a look or leave a message.

    you will be forever loved baby and never forgotten xx

    http://en.picalily.com/Adam_Nicolai