A man who tragically drowned in Bali had participated in a 12km fun run whilst blindfolded in the months prior to his death in an effort to raise money for the vision-impaired.
Jacob Vennix, 32, and his new wife, Kimberly Fuller, 38, had been relaxing at Pasut Beach, about 30km west of Denpasar on Monday when tragedy struck.
He died after being washed out to sea by a strong current while swimming at the estuary at Pasut Beach in Tabanan Regency, at 3.50pm local time.
The Adelaide father-of-two was unable to be revived when his body returned to shore.
‘All he wanted was to marry me and love and look after me and the boys. I will make sure the boys know what an angel he was,’ his shattered wife said after his death.
Now, a GoFundMe page set up by Mr Vennix’s sister, Claire Brown, has revealed how selfless Mr Vennix was in helping others – including running a 12km race blindfolded just a few months before his death to raise money for the vision-impaired.
‘Kimberley and Jacob met in February 2022 at a Coles supermarket when Jacob saw his now-stepson Isaac playing with a Guide Dogs donation box,’ she wrote.
‘Ironically, in a twist of fate two years later their son Cole was born with a bilateral optic nerve hypoplasia impacting his vision.
Adelaide woman Kimberley Fuller (left) wrote on Facebook that her late husband Jacob Vennix (right) ‘was the most beautiful human, partner and father’
It has since been revealed that Mr Vennix had ran the 12km City to Bay blindfolded in an effort to raise money for the vision impaired months prior to his death in September 2024
‘In September 2024 Jacob ran the City to Bay blindfolded to raise awareness that vision-impaired people can do the same things as those with full sight.
‘Jacob and Kimberley raised money for the Guide Dogs SA/NT.’
Ms Brown revealed that her brother had had recently resigned from his job to ’embark on a career in disability support, a career close to his heart’.
She also said that her sister-in-law will need support in the wake of his death.
‘Kimberley is always there for others, lending a hand and offering support without hesitation.’ she said.
‘(She) is now confronted with the unforeseen challenge of saying goodbye to Jacob and adjusting to life as a grieving single mother of two young boys.’
More than 160 donations have been made, raising a total of $17,152 so far.
On Tuesday, Ms Fuller remembered ‘the most beautiful human, partner and father’.
Mr Vinnex had planned on becoming a disability support worker prior to his death
Ms Fuller posted a photo of their two hands intertwined that was taken ‘during the last night I had with him’
Ms Fuller captioned her heartfelt social media post with photo of their hands intertwined taken ‘during the last night I had with him’.
‘All he wanted was to marry me and love and look after me and the boys. I will make sure the boys know what an angel he was,’ she wrote.
‘Now an angel in heaven. I love you my darling. I’m so sorry.’
Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese led the messages of condolences for Mr Vennix.
In a social media post, Mr Albanese said it was ‘such deeply sad news’.
‘Our thoughts are with Jacob’s wife, family and friends,’ he wrote.
Friends of the couple paid tribute to Mr Vennix on his wife’s post, with one saying he was ‘one of the nicest, most amazing gentlemen I’ve known’.
Another said Mr Vennix was ‘such a nice guy’ and that it had been ‘an honour to have gotten to know him’.
One friend complemented Ms Fuller for her post, writing that ‘You’ve found perfect words for an unimaginable situation.
Pictured are the couple on their wedding day
‘All he wanted was to marry me and love and look after me and the boys. I will make sure the boys know what an angel he was,’ Kimberley Fuller posted on Tuesday
‘We’ve been thinking of you all day! Sending all our love and we’re here if you need anything.’
Another added: ‘The love you shared was so special and beautiful to witness, forever in our hearts and thoughts.’
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, who represents the couple’s home state of South Australia in the Senate, said she was ‘heartbroken for Mr Vennix’s wife and loved ones’ and offered her deepest sympathies.
‘I know all Australians will be thinking of them,’ she said.
‘The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and our consular officials in Bali will continue to provide consular assistance.’
Mr Vennix became caught in a rip and was swept out to sea when his wife immediately called for help.
A local fisherman rushed help Mr Vennix in his boat, but struggled to reach him due to the shifting currents.
Tabanan Police spokesperson I Gusti Made Berata said when the fisherman was finally able to drag the Aussie on board, a large wave flipped the boat.
Ms Fuller carried a cushion from a beach chair into the water as a floatation device to help Mr Vennix to shore
Mr Vennix was rushed to Tabanan Public Hospital, where he was declared dead. Above, police at the hospital
‘The victim was later swept by the wave onto the beach,’ he said.
‘Some locals and the victim’s wife who were waiting on the beach immediately tried to save the victim.
‘The victim’s condition was unconscious.’
Heartbreaking footage showed Mr Vennix’s wife carrying the large cushion of a beach chair into the water to help bring Mr Vennix to shore.
The victim’s wife performed CPR with the assistance of locals and he was eventually taken to Tabanan Public Hospital, where he was declared dead.
It is understood he and Ms Fuller had wed on December 21, nine days before the freak incident.
Photographs showed the couple tying the knot at the Hard Days Night function centre in Adelaide.
The couple smiled from ear to ear as they exchanged their vows in front of a celebrant.
One photo showed the couple happily posing with a marriage certificate on one of the lounges at the venue.
‘Beautiful day marrying a beautiful man x,’ Ms Fuller captioned a photo on Facebook.
Mr Vennix described Ms Fuller as ‘my stunning wife’ and said he couldn’t ‘be prouder’ in a heartbreaking post a day before.
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