‘Chin up bro’: A friend’s chilling last post to dad-of-three who burned to death with his children

A friend of the former NRL player who ‘burned his family alive’ in their car on Wednesday told him to keep his ‘chin up’ just days before the massacre.

In a chilling final post on social media which alluded to problems at home, the friend told the father-of-three ‘everything will work out’. 

Former rugby star Rowan Baxter died alongside his three children, Laianah, Aaliyah and Trey, when the family’s white SUV was set alight at Camp Hill, near Brisbane.

The horror blaze started on Wednesday morning, with neighbours reportedly hearing his terrified wife Hannah shrieking ‘he’s poured petrol on me’ from inside the car. 

Hannah Baxter (pictured, far left) is fighting for her life after her estranged husband Rowan (centre) died on Wednesday along with their three children

Just four days before the tragedy, family friend Joey Abraham told him to keep his 'chin up', saying 'everything will work out'

Just four days before the tragedy, family friend Joey Abraham told him to keep his ‘chin up’, saying ‘everything will work out’

A friend told Daily Mail Australia that Baxter was suffering from depression after separating from his wife, and had become ‘a shadow of the person he used to be.’

He blamed the family’s break-up for the tragedy, saying it had ‘driven Baxter crazy’.

Family friend Joey Abraham said: ‘He said he hadn’t seen his kids for a few months as he and his wife were separated. 

‘She had found a new partner. Rowan was in a real bad place there for a bit because of the separation.  

‘I know it hurt him so much it just unbelievable that he could this.

‘If you knew Rowan when he at his best and to see him like last week then you know how far he’d fallen. He was just a shadow of the person he used to be.

Rowan Baxter (pictured, centre, right) reportedly set his family car alight with his children Laianah, Aaliyah and Trey inside

Rowan Baxter (pictured, centre, right) reportedly set his family car alight with his children Laianah, Aaliyah and Trey inside

The car was set alight in Camp Hill near Brisbane (pictured) on Wednesday morning, killing three children and their father

The car was set alight in Camp Hill near Brisbane (pictured) on Wednesday morning, killing three children and their father

‘They were beautiful kids, they were a beautiful family.

They had a business together, they had everything together.’

Just four days ago, Mr Abraham – who has known the family for 10 years – left a cryptic message on Facebook under a picture of his young son, Trey. 

‘Chin up brother everything will work out,’ the friend wrote.

‘Just hang in there my bro, a lot of people care about you and the situation you’re facing. We are all sending our thoughts and best wishes to you my friend.’ 

He explained that Baxter was ‘struggling’ and ‘suffering from depression’ before the massacre. 

Rowan Baxter (pictured, centre right) reportedly set fire to his family car, killing himself and his three children

Rowan Baxter (pictured, centre right) reportedly set fire to his family car, killing himself and his three children

Neighbours near the scene at Camp Hill, Brisbane (pictured) reported hearing a woman's desperate screams, believed to be Baxter's wife Hannah

Neighbours near the scene at Camp Hill, Brisbane (pictured) reported hearing a woman’s desperate screams, believed to be Baxter’s wife Hannah

The horrifying incident took place in Camp Hill in Brisbane's south-east (pictured) on Wednesday morning

The horrifying incident took place in Camp Hill in Brisbane’s south-east (pictured) on Wednesday morning

The couple separated recently and shut down the exercise business they ran together, Integr8 Fitness.  

Mrs Baxter, the childrens’ mother, was driving the car and is in a critical condition in hospital, after suffering serious burns.

Neighbours heard a series of massive explosions shortly after 8am and watched in horror as Mrs Baxter, dressed in her activewear, managed to clamber out of the car.

She was soon hosed down by a Good Samaritan neighbour who rushed to her aid.

Baxter, an ex New Zealand Warriors player, is believed to have stabbed himself with a knife during the horrific attack on his family. 

This Kia Sportage (pictured) went up in flames in Camp Hill, in Brisbane's south east, about 8.20am on Wednesday

This Kia Sportage (pictured) went up in flames in Camp Hill, in Brisbane’s south east, about 8.20am on Wednesday

Rowan Baxter (pictured, left) reportedly set fire to his car, killing all three of his children

Rowan Baxter (pictured, left) reportedly set fire to his car, killing all three of his children

Residents reported hearing an explosion which sounded like a ‘gas bottle’ sound early this morning.

At least four blasts followed.

Wendy Antoniou, who lives several houses up, told Daily Mail Australia: ‘I thought something had landed on my roof, it was like BANG – I could feel the vibration.’

‘I came around the side window – well, I nearly bloody died. The fire brigade was everywhere, ambulance was everywhere.

‘All I could see was the smoke. I didn’t know whether it was a house on fire or what. Apparently, this car exploded.

Mrs Baxter (pictured) is seen on holiday with her three children. The trio died on Wednesday morning, while their mother is fighting for her life

Mrs Baxter (pictured) is seen on holiday with her three children. The trio died on Wednesday morning, while their mother is fighting for her life

‘First of all I couldn’t even see the flames – then I could see all these flames high in the air!’

Another resident said he thought he heard the sound of a smoke detector going off. but became increasingly concerned as the moments ticked by.

‘I thought it was maybe a grinder or something … then (after three or four minutes) I saw the smoke coming up and people started to make sounds.’

He described the scene of the woman being hosed down by a neighbour as ‘pretty confronting for everyone involved, extremely confronting for the residents’.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk