Heartbreaking moment father-of-four with cancer breaks down as paramedics taking him home to die pull over so he can look at the sea for one last time
- Dad-of-four Chris Shaw, 45, battled stomach cancer for 14 months before he died on August 31 last year
- He left behind his wife Kylie and children Emily, 11, Ruby, 9, and six-year-old twins Charlotte and Isaac
- Paramedics were driving him home to die when his wife asked if they could stop off at his favourite beach
- She wanted him to ‘feel the sun and breeze on his body’ and ‘feel normal at his favourite beach for 20 minutes’
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A father-of-four had his dying wish granted when his paramedics pulled over so he could see the ocean for the last time.
Chris Shaw, 45, battled stomach cancer for 14 months before he died on August 31 last year, leaving behind his wife Kylie and children Emily, 11, Ruby, 9, and six-year-old twins Charlotte and Isaac.
To mark the anniversary of his death, Mrs Shaw is remembering the kindness of two St John Ambulance transport officers who provided him with an experience money couldn’t buy.
The officers, Jade and Jesse, were driving Mr Shaw to Currambine, a northern suburb of Perth, to live his final days at home.
Ms Shaw asked the officers if they could take a detour to Burns Beach so her husband could ‘feel the sun and breeze on his body’ and ‘feel normal at his favourite beach for 20 minutes’.
Chris Shaw, 45, died on August 31 2018 after battling stomach cancer for 14 months. He was given a dying wish to see Burns Beach while being transported home for his final two weeks
‘We’re an ocean family and this is our favourite beach. It was the tiniest gesture but it meant the world,’ Ms Shaw told The West Australian.
‘They were our angels that day’.
Mr Shaw had a cough and reflux when he was diagnosed with the aggressive cancer in June 2017.
After undergoing chemotherapy, doctors said he was in remission in February 2018.
But four months later Mr Shaw’s cancer had returned and spread to his lymph nodes and bones.
Ms Shaw said the family were told he had just three days to live but he managed to hold on for six weeks – four weeks in hospital and two at home.
‘We spent so many family moments at that beach. We’d sit down and have a Corona, the kids would run around and we’d watch the sun set,’ Ms Shaw said.
To mark the one year anniversary of Mr Shaw’s death, Ms Shaw is remembering the kindness of two St John Ambulance transport officers who provided him with an experience money couldn’t buy (pictured: Chris and Kylie Shaw)
The ambulance officers met with the Shaw family at Burns Beach to mark the one-year anniversary.
Jade said it was ‘heart-warming and humbling’ to be referred to as an angel, adding the experience changed the way she does her job.
Writing on Facebook, Ms Shaw said her husband left her a ‘bucket list’ of things he wanted her to carry out for him and the kids before passing.
‘Some are easy to do and some a long term, some I have achieved, some I’m working on and some are work in progress,’ she wrote.
‘One of those is to try and bring as much awareness about the No Stomach for Cancer charity.’
Ms Shaw said her husband was getting his wish as the heightened media coverage on the anniversary of his death brings greater attention to the aggressive cancer.
She told The West Australian fundraising allowed the family to keep their home and money raised also went to cancer research and awareness.
Ms Shaw asked the officers if they could take a detour to Burns Beach, so her husband could ‘feel the sun and breeze on his body’ and ‘feel normal at his favourite beach for 20 mins’