RYAN Messenger’s mother has released a tribute to her son, who died at a Karuah quarry this week.
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Mr Messenger was killed after an excavator rolled down an embankment at Karuah’s Hunter Quarries, who also employs his step-father Brian.
Janelle Russell described laying her 25-year-old son to rest as "the hardest thing I have ever had to endure in my life" and thanked Hunter Quarries for supporting her family since Ryan’s death.
"Ryan was a butcher by trade and went to work for Hunter Quarries two years ago, where he worked his way from being a labourer/driver to become a leading hand," she said.
"He was excited to get this job where he learnt the right way to be the safe and experienced operator he had become."
"Hunter Quarries is not, from my point of view, at fault.
"This is a very sad accident that has taken place and is just that - an accident - and nothing more."
Ms Russell said her son had recently had his "fairytale wedding", marrying his beloved Alexandra.
"Ryan loved life to the fullest but loved his wife Alexandra more," Ms Russell said in her statement.
"They married in February this year, had built a home together and should have had a long loving life with each other."
"The kind of love they have will live on forever."
The Newcastle Herald reported earlier this week that family and friends were shattered at the loss of the "lovable larrikin".
Work to recover Mr Messenger’s body is underway.
Ms Russell said her son’s name would be mentioned every day by his loved ones.
"Ryan has always been the life of the room - he was always the class clown," Ms Russell told the Newcastle Herald.
"He never left a mate behind and he has a great bunch of mates."
"My heart will take a long time, if at all it does, to mend from the sudden passing of Ryan."
FROM JANELLE RUSSELL, MOTHER OF RYAN MESSENGER
Being a parent whom has to lay their first born son to rest at the young age of 25 is going to be the
hardest thing I have ever had to endure in my life.
Ryan has always been the life of the room- he was always the class clown! He is loved lots by his sister Teara , his brother Ethan, step-brother Rob and his niece Shaffira.
Ryan loved life to the fullest but loved his wife Alexandra more! They married in February this year,
had built a home together and should have had a long loving life with each other. The kind of love
they have will live on forever. Alexandra and her family loved Ryan as much as his own family loved him!
Ryan was a real ‘mates mate’, he never left a mate behind and he has a great bunch of mates (brothers).
My heart will take a long time, if at all it does, to mend from the sudden passing of Ryan.
Both my husband Brian and my son Ryan work for Hunter Quarries. Ryan was a butcher by trade and went to work for Hunter Quarries 2 years ago, where he worked his way from being a labourer/driver to become a leading hand. He was excited to get this job where he learnt the right way to be the safe and experienced operator he had become.
I, as Ryan’s mother, would like to thank Hunter Quarries from the bottom of my very broken heart, for the utmost support and their willing to go out of their way to make us as comfortable as possible over the past few days. Hunter Quarries is not, from my point of view, at fault. This is a very sad
accident that has taken place and is just that- an accident- and nothing more. Hunter Quarries has shown our families nothing but compassion and support in many ways. All the people whom work within the Hunter Group are treated as a big extended family and I cannot thank them enough for all of their support.
