William Jennings
Born: 23 March 2001
Died: 4 November 2023
Age: 22
Occupation: Mechanical Engineer/ Camera Operator
Our beautiful son Will died in a completely preventable airplane crash while working as a camera operator during a fire surveillance flight.
Will had worked on the thermal imaging camera used for the aerial surveillance during an internship as a mechanical engineer while attending Northeastern University in Boston. He had graduated six months prior to the fatal crash.
When presented with the opportunity to help with the firefighting efforts, Will did not hesitate. The images seen on the news of previous bushfires that had taken lives, destroyed homes and killed wildlife left quite an impression. He was determined to assist any way he could. He left our home in the U.S. and travelled to Australia never to return.
Our son Will was the centre of our lives. He was the most loving, caring son a parent could ever hope for. Not a single day went by that he didn’t have contact with us. Every conversation ended in “I love you”.
When his father suffered a catastrophic injury that left him permanently disabled, Will was a constant source of love and support. He had so much inner strength for someone so young.
Will had an adventurous spirit. He enjoyed hiking and photography. He found beauty in all that was around him. He captured that beauty with his keen eye as a photographer.
As a friend, Will was loyal and loving. He was quick to lend a hand. He would readily become your biggest advocate. His many friends are deeply affected by his loss.
Will’s death has had a profound impact on us. The love we shared has been replaced with deep sorrow and grief. Our dreams for the future have been shattered. We’ll never dance at his wedding. We’ll never hold his babies in our arms. We no longer have a devoted son to look after us in our old age.
Losing our only child feels like the sun has been obliterated from the sky. Where there was light and order, now there is darkness and chaos. We are doing our best to forge a path forward in this new reality while honouring Will’s life and the love he brought into this world.