Top bloke lost: Heartfelt tributes for dam tragedy victim

Andrew Sebka was the familiar face in Manilla with the black hat – and he never took it off, according to friends who have paid tribute to their friend, who died in a tragic boating accident at Split Rock Dam on Wednesday.

The 26-year-old called Manilla home for much of his life and loved fishing and getting on the water. 

“He had a smile that would light up a room,” friend Ricky Smith told Fairfax Media.

“It has shocked us all. All of the boys are pretty numb.

“It’s a face you’re going to miss  and I think it just hits home.”

Wednesday afternoon was meant to be just another adventure on the water to test out a boat motor which he had helped to restore.

But it stalled in choppy conditions and the pull-chord snapped, and moments later Andrew was gone.

He disappeared into the water and was never seen again until police divers recovered his body on Thursday afternoon.

The shock loss of the popular Manilla local has triggered tributes across not only the town, but also online, where friends have posted favourite memories and even strangers have left their condolences.

“He was just a simple kid, everyone in town loved him,” Manilla’s Jacob Hawley said.

“He was a happy-go-lucky kind of guy, and he was just one of those loveable guys from a very nice family.”

Mr Hawley said Andrew used to tinker around with motors, tinker around in the shed and fixed things, or played with his dogs.

“He always had his black hat on,” he said.

 “It’s going to be hard for the community, everyone knows him and he was so young.”

Now, locals have banded together to remember him and they’re even planning to wear black hats when he is laid to rest.

“We are all here for his mother as a community, as friends. His family is not alone because we’ll be here for them,” Mr Smith said.

“We’re organising a donation tin to support the family and help them out at this time and that will be shared around at some of the local businesses in Manilla.”

Source: Northern Daily Leader