The family of Queensland man Greg Gibbins have shared their memories of the 28-year-old car spray painter and rugby tragic after he was killed in a stabbing outside of the Beachcomber Hotel in Toukley on Easter Sunday.
As the Sydney Morning Herald reports, Gibbins had just enjoyed a day of music at the Beachcomber Hotel as part of their Easter Sunbay event, which featured performances from Brooke Evers, Slice N Dice, and Destroy The Machines.
Gibbins suffered a cardiac arrest and died in hospital in the early hours of Easter Monday after he was stabbed whilst waiting for a late-night bite near a local pizza shop.
“A good citizen just getting some food after a night out behaving himself and now his family is making funeral arrangements and that’s the tragedy of it,” Chief Inspector Rod Peet told Fairfax Media.
According to reports, a fight involving at least six people broke out opposite the Beachcomber Hotel on Main Road in Toukley. When police arrived just after midnight, they found Mr Gibbins and a 25-year-old man with stab wounds.
Police claim the 25-year-old man had tried to help the fatally injured Gibbins and became “victim number two”. Police claim the two men were friends and had gone to the pizza shop together.
“The victim [Mr Gibbins] was there, he was either chatting or waiting for some food, after the establishment across the road closed,” Insp Peet said. Police claim there was no “preamble involving violence”, making the incident “unique”.
“The victim [Mr Gibbins] was there, he was either chatting or waiting for some food, after the establishment across the road closed,” he continued. “Then almost spontaneously this other gentleman has come up and stabbed him in the chest.”
The two men were being treated by paramedics attending the scene when Mr Gibbins entered cardiac arrest. The two were taken to Gosford Hospital where Mr Gibbins later died. Police say the 25-year-old’s injuries were not life-threatening.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Bradley James Brooks, a 20-year-old central coast resident, has been charged with Mr Gibbins’ murder. He was arrested at a house in Halekulani just after 11pm on Monday. He was refused police bail and appeared in Wyong local court on Tuesday.
Detectives are now examining CCTV footage from the Beachcomber Hotel to establish if an incident inside the club could have prompted the fatal attack. Police are urging any witnesses to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Beloved by friends and family, Mr Gibbins’ Facebook page has been flooded with tributes from friends attempting to come to terms with the death of the Wyong Roos rugby player affectionately known as “Gibbo”.
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“He was a very popular player among his peers,” said football manager at the Wyong Roos football club Matt Lavin. “I can’t say a bad word about him. It is an absolute tragedy and our heart goes out to Greg and his family.”
Mr Gibbins’ family have also expressed their grief. “It’s just why, why. I just keep asking myself that question – why, why,” devastated father Barry Gibbins told Fairfax. “It is just so senseless, you can’t comprehend it all.”
Management and staff at the Beachcomber Hotel have also expressed their “deepest sympathy” to Mr Gibbins’ family and friends, saying they are “devastated” by news of the tragedy. “We can’t even begin to understand the pain they must be feeling,” they wrote on Facebook.
“It needs to be clarified, despite rumours and false reporting, the Beachcomber was closed at the time of this terrible crime in our town and our off-duty staff assisted where we could,” they added.
Anyone with information that could assist police with their investigation has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or via the official Crime Stoppers website 24 hours a day.
