Grieving parents of electrocuted 11-year-old Seaview boy want answers

THE heartbroken parents of Kyle O’Reilly, who died on Sunday, are determined to find out what happened to their son, if only to help prevent the same fate befalling others.

“This isn’t about me, this is about Kyle, he was just a child, and he died unnecessarily,” said his father speaking exclusively to a reporter for the Highway Mail‘s sister publication, the Queensburgh News today, (Thursday, 20 February).

Kyle, who was in Grade 5 at Hillary Primary School, would have turned 12 in September and was looking forward to going to high school in two years time.

Kyle’s father, Wayne O’Reilly, said he was heartbroken at the loss of his son who he described as “the brightest light of my whole life.”

“I cannot imagine how I can be expected to move on from this without knowing exactly what happened and how such a tragedy can be prevented.”

O’Reilly said Kyle, like any other child, was full of life and shouldn’t have been taken from his parents this way.

“He was just a child,” he kept repeating.

“Unfortunately, he was my child so I have to suffer, but I know many children die this way and it needs to stop.

Grieving as a family

Kyle’s death has brought his family closer together with coming together under one roof family in the wake of their son’s tragic death.

“Although Kyle’s mother and I are separated we are joined forever as parents, and are grieving together,” said O’Reilly on Thursday morning.

Misty Wood, the 11-year-old’s mum lives in Seaview where Kyle spent most of his time.

“We had just come back from a mother and son morning and he had been given pies and some chips and had kept some for his brother,” recalled Wood.

“He loved being outdoors. Playing with his group of his friends and exploring the nature strip and the D’Moss area adjacent to the Umbilo Park was normal for him.”

He is thought to have stepped on an exposed cable while trying to cross the Umbilo river as he had many times before.

“I am determined to find the answers we need, we will not let this death get swept under the carpet!” said Wayne, who is now on a mission to help prevent this from happening to other families.

Friends tried to help

“One of his friends was so upset he wasn’t able to get to him to help him,” said O’Reilly.

The group of friends all fled to call for help, but the one child who remains has been traumatised by the experience of being helpless to assist his friend.

“We are just so grateful he had friends with him who cared, especially the youngest one who was the one who stayed to try to help,” said O’Reilly.

O’Reilly said he is currently looking into ensuring that both Kyle’s mother, and his friends receive trauma counselling to help them cope with this tragedy.

Service planned

The family will be holding a service at the Full Gospel Church in Umbilo in Stellawood Road on Monday (24 February) at 11am, followed by a private cremation.

Chezney Cockerell of the Bellair CFP sector and NHW for the area said the family had asked for assistance with funds for the burial of their son, and trauma counselling.

“Please can members assist by donating any amount of money to make this possible,” said Cockerell.  For details on how to help, contact him on 084 519 3559 or the sector 2 chairman Raihaan Mahomed on 078 475 3034.

The Queensburgh News will be updating this story in its next print edition and Highway Mail will be publishing an updated story as further verified information is released.

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