Jake Massey
A woman in Australia tragically died on her honeymoon in a freak golf buggy accident.
Robbie Morgan, 30, tied the knot with his long-term partner Marina, 29, at St Mary & St Merkorious Coptic Orthodox Church in Rhodes, Sydney, on 11 June. But in a devastating turn of events, friends and family have been reunited at the venue three weeks later for Marina's funeral.
The newlyweds were on the their honeymoon in Hamilton Island, one of Queensland's Whitsunday Islands, when their golf buggy flipped on 20 June.
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Robbie was driving the buggy, which flipped as he did a U-turn. Off-duty emergency services workers carried out CPR for more than half an hour but tragically, she could not be saved.
Queensland Police Inspector Anthony Cowan said the death was a 'tragic accident' adding there was 'no indication of alcohol or dangerous driving'.
"There may have been some inexperience driving those type of vehicles while turning it has rolled on its side and the woman has fallen out and sustained life-threatening injuries," he said.
"It was just a tragic accident with a golf buggy."
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Hundreds of people gathered for the funeral today (Saturday 2 July) at the church where the couple tied the knot.
Marina's cousin, Miriam, wrote a poem in her honour, and told the service that marrying Robbie was a dream come true for Marina.
According to The Daily Telegraph, she said: "A daughter, a friend, a family member and a wife. Marina did truly fulfil her biggest goal in life.
"To marry her soulmate Robbie and be a bride, while filling her family with pride.
"The night before her wedding, we snuggled together, and she told me how fulfilled she was and how life just couldn't get any better."
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Her brother, Mark Hanna, fought back tears as he paid tribute to her, saying: "Marina was a sweet, young, independent woman who was loved by everyone who knew her.
"She was beautiful inside and out, loved to laugh, and always had a positive outlook on life."
Robbie sobbed as he and other family members carried her casket.
Speaking to reporters after the funeral, he said: "I can't explain the sadness in my heart, my wife was loved by so many.
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"So many felt her (love) and she taught kindness."
He added that he would be establishing the Marina Morgan Foundation in her memory.
"It's in her honour I will be opening the foundation to spread love, kindness and hope throughout the world," he said.