Heartbreak for Home and Away’s Sarah Roberts as her brother dies after a ‘brave’ battle with brain cancer three months after he walked her down the aisle at her wedding to James Stewart
- The 34-year-old actress revealed her brother, Karl De Abrew, is ‘walking with the angels’ after battling brain cancer
- In July, Karl walked his sister down the aisle during her wedding to Home and Away co-star James Stewart in Dublin, Ireland
- The ceremony was held in Dublin, where Karl lived, because he was unable to travel overseas due to his condition
- ‘You can rest now, we know you’re dancing up there in the heavens, always watching down on us,’ Sarah wrote in a heartbreaking Instagram post
- Karl was a successful businessman who founded the San Francisco-based PDF technology company Nitro
Home and Away star Sarah Roberts has announced the death of her brother, businessman Karl De Abrew.
Karl, who lived in Clontarf, a suburb of Dublin, Ireland, died on Wednesday after a ‘brave battle’ with brain cancer, according to his sister.
Three months before his death, Karl had walked Sarah down the aisle at her wedding to co-star James Stewart at Luttrellstown Castle on the outskirts of Dublin.
‘You can rest now, we know you’re dancing up there in the heavens’: Home and Away star Sarah Roberts (left) has announced the death of her brother, businessman Karl De Abrew (right)
She wrote on Instagram on Thursday: ‘Three months ago today he walked me down the aisle and now he is walking with the angels.
‘I’m left with a hole in my heart and 34 years of beautiful memories, growing up together as children into adults.
‘You fought the bravest battle, Big Squirt, to the very end and I promise to always live by your standards [and] to remember what you taught me, “It’s all about the journey, not the destination”, and “Have no regrets”.
Bittersweet: Three months before his death, Karl had walked Sarah down the aisle at her wedding to James Stewart at Luttrellstown Castle on the outskirts of Dublin. He is pictured signing the registry at the ceremony
‘I love you, I cherish you, I salute you. You can rest now, we know you’re dancing up there in the heavens, always watching down on us. Forever all my love, Medium Squirt.’
Sarah and James decided to marry in Ireland so that Karl, who was too sick to travel overseas, could attend the ceremony.
She told WHO magazine in August: ‘My brother lives [there]. He’s not able to fly at the moment because of health reasons.’
Health battle: In several Twitter posts from earlier this year, Karl referenced undergoing ‘chemo’ and radiation to treat a ’15-year-old brain tumour’. Pictured with his mother, Sharma
Karl’s passing was also announced in a death notice on Wednesday, which read: ‘De Abrew, Karl (late of Clontarf and formerly of Melbourne, Australia) – October 23rd, 2019, peacefully at Beaumont Hospital.
‘Beloved husband of Susana, loving father of Alexander and Aurora, and son of Sharma and Neil. Very sadly missed by his wife, children and parents, his brother Rowan, sisters Sarah and Lauren, extended family in Australia, neighbours and friends.
‘Reposing at the Kirwan Funeral Home, Fairview Strand, on Thursday evening from 5pm to 7pm. Removal to Dardistown Crematorium on Friday afternoon for a celebration of Karl’s life at 2pm.’
In several Twitter posts from earlier this year, Karl referenced undergoing ‘chemo’ and radiation to treat a ’15-year-old brain tumour’.
Karl was a successful businessman who worked in the PDF software space, and is perhaps best known for founding the company Nitro.
Founded in Melbourne in 2005, Nitro now has 135 employees and is headquartered in San Francisco. The company also has offices in Dublin and London.
Karl described himself in his Twitter bio as ‘a seasoned speaker, moderator, industry commentator, software developer, entrepreneur and a driving force in the early days of the PDF industry.’