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Heartfelt tributes to “honourable young man” killed in bucks party accident
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KATHERINE TWEED
atthew Bell was ready to walk down the aisle, hand in hand with the love of his life, Samantha Pynappels, when a tragic accident stole away their happy ending and bright future together. Last weekend, the 26-year-old husbandto-be was celebrating his bucks party, a night that should have been one of his best, when he took a fall that ended his life. Police say that Mr Bell had been attempting to slide down some railings at a Sydney pub when he lost his balance and fell backwards down the stairwell. Mr Bell and his high school sweetheart, Ms Pynappels, who had been living together in Glenmore Park, were just weeks away from saying their vows. The couple met in high school and had been together for more than 10 years; friends who knew them just can’t believe this has happened. “It’s such a horrible thing to have happened. I still haven’t got my head around it, I was just sitting across the table from Matt at dinner last week,” said a friend of the couple, who did not wish to be named in print. “They were the perfect couple, always smiling and laughing together, I don’t think I ever saw a dull moment between the two. She was living the fairytale with her prince charming.” Family members have described him as a sensible young man, who was devoted to Ms Pynappels, and like friends, are in
disbelief that at a time in his life when everything was going right, something so tragically unexpected could happen. “It’s a nightmare,” uncle to Mr Bell, Grant Bell, told Nine News. “You just couldn’t understand how something like this could happen. We still don’t understand. For this sort of thing to happen to a boy like that just demonstrates how fragile life is.” For the past five years, during his studies at the University of Western Sydney and after his graduation in 2010, Mr Bell was employed as a civil engineer for JK Williams in Penrith, where his natural talent saw him excel. “From the very start Matt impressed us with his knowledge, enthusiasm and unassuming style, we very quickly grew fond of him, his character and his charm,” JK Williams General Manager, Guy Williams, told the Weekender. “He was a wonderfully astute and honourable young man of the highest calibre, someone we were overwhelmingly proud to call our own. “Matt was a profoundly talented Project Manager. He could have been anything in this business.” His death has taken a toll on the company, a place where he was respected by all co-workers. “Matt’s tragic passing has taken a huge toll on all employees, naturally we are all struggling to come to grips with what has unfolded over the last couple of days,” Mr Williams said. “He will be sorely missed and will remain forever in our memories.”
Local News
Tragedy destroys a love story
Matthew Bell and Samantha Pynappels were to be married later this year. Photo: Facebook.
Since Mr Bell’s death, a man who slipped and fell in the same place nine years ago has come forward saying that if he had taken more drastic measures to
improve the club’s safety, this accident could have been avoided. The Sydney hotel has defended its safety measures.
The Western Weekender | Friday, April 19, 2013 WW2291
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