Two brothers — including an Australian Ninja Warrior star — have paid tribute to their “little bro” after he tragically died in a snorkelling accident off the Albany coast.
Sam Colback, 24, was tragically pulled from the waters off Muttonbird Island in Albany on Monday after a solo snorkelling accident.
Tragically he couldn’t be saved and has since been remembered as a “passionate” and caring “entertainer” as his family grieves his death.
Australian Ninja Warrior State of Origin Winner Zed Colback has since said he “wished we could go on one last adventure” with his younger brother in an emotional online tribute
“We took every chance to get out and do something. We were on the same wavelength,” the rock climbing instructor told 7NEWS.com.
Zed shared multiple photos of his brother online — including one of Sam scaling a rockface with the Ninja Warrior athlete.
Sam’s older brother, Josh, shared the tragic news on Facebook on behalf of his family on Wednesday as he reflected on his brother’s adventurous personality.
“Through Sam’s 24 years of life, he brought a huge level of care and kindness everywhere he went. He had a love for the unlovely and his heart cried for those who sat on the fringes and in the shadows,” Mr Colback said.
“If he wasn’t playing his Djembe (drum) on the corner of some street with some characters, he might be with his friends and family, making them laugh and watch as he backfliped, juggled something dangerous or swung out of a tree.
“No matter what he was doing, he was passionate about it.”
Mr Colback added his brother was an “entertainer who brought joy to everyone around him”.
“But right now, Sam is entertaining angels,” he said.
Sam’s mother told the ABC said her son was a disability support worker and that he was on a camping trip at the time of his death.
A GoFundMe has since been launched to help cover funeral costs for the family — which has raised over $5000.
Fundraiser organiser Hannah Bennett said “words can’t express our sorrow as we mourn with you Colback fam(sic)”.
“I just want to say as a friend how deeply my mama heart hurts for this family and I know Lisa (Sam’s mother) will be trying to shoulder and protect all her kids and grand children from grief in the various ways it assaults us while trying to come to terms with this heavy loss.”