Rhiley and Maree Kuhrt: 'Heartbroken' family of couple killed in plane crash shares photo of unborn ‘angel baby’
PROSERPINE, QUEENSLAND: The family of crash victims, Rhiley Kuhrt and his pregnant wife Maree Kuhrt who died after their light plane crashed in regional Queensland on April 2, have shared a heartbreaking picture while revealing other details about the couple’s unborn “angel baby”. Rhiley's sister Beccarah Markham-Gaudion, who set up a GoFundMe for the family, said that the couple were considering calling their baby girl Phoebe.
The sister wrote on the page that the couple were on “a routine flight to see family," and expressed, "We are all absolutely heartbroken and utterly grief stricken. Three incredible lives were cut way too short.” Beccarah further wrote, "We would like to thank you all for your condolences, sympathies, and ongoing support during this dark time in our lives."
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'Rest easy Rhiley Kuhrt and Maree Kuhrt'
So far, more than $5,144 has been raised for the couple since the fundraiser was started. Also, friends and family have paid tribute to the couple and their unborn daughter, Phoebe. One of them wrote, "You both will be missed. Rest easy Rhiley Kuhrt and Maree Kuhrt. I will always remember the good memories. So sad to think it will be your birthday on Wednesday [April 5] Rhiley and you won’t be here to celebrate it I’m sure everyone will be having a drink for you. I remember the words you said when we called you saying Isaac would be sharing a birthday with you and how excited you were. Forever in our hearts."
Another wrote, "Dearest Maree Kuhrt, you will be so greatly missed! To hear the news you, Rhiley and Phoebe were taken from us was the biggest shock. I'm going to miss you so much beautiful girl!" One more said, "A fella couldn't help but be constantly impressed by Maree and Rhiley's sense of adventure and zest for life. You figure quick they're a special kind when your helping her onto the back of a rodeo bull and see he's managing cattle stations at such a young age. I can't truly express how sorry l am to Maree, Phoebe and Riley's family and friends, all l know is they they gave their best but deserved a whole lot better than what has become. Rest in Peace."
Maree was 27 weeks pregnant
Maree, a mother-of-one, was 27 weeks pregnant with her second baby at the time of her death. A day before the crash, she posted a selfie showing her baby bump, captioning, "27 weeks now! Getting closer and closer to meeting baby girl." Prior to this, in December 2022, she shared the news of the baby writing, "Dear friends and family, Rhiley, Bailey and I are proud to announce that we are expecting a little cowgirl or cowboy to the kuhrt team in June 2023!
What happened?
The couple were reported missing after they left Natal Downs Station on a routine flight Piper Cherokee to visit family on April 2, but failed to reach the destination, Lakeside Airpark, Bloomsbury, reports Yahoo! Police Inspector Andrew Godbold said preliminary investigations indicated the visibility was poor when the plane crashed. He said, "A lot of showers, thunder and probably visibility down to nothing.It’s a very rugged terrain there. There’s obviously a lot of mountainous terrain in the area there and it is very difficult for us even just to walk in at this stage." He told, as stated by ABC News, "It took police two hours to drive to a close spot about one kilometre from the crash site and then it took another two hours to walk to the site. The easiest way to get in and out for retrieval investigations is to winch a crew down near the site." Following this, an AMSA spokesman said, "At 10.15am (AEST) this morning, a crash site was located in the Clarke Ranges west of Proserpine by QG Air Rescue helicopter based in Townsville. An aircraft located at the crash site is confirmed to be the light aircraft that was reported missing after leaving Natal Downs Station in Queensland yesterday afternoon," reported Daily Mail.
A post on Facebook before the accident showed how Rhiley was set to purchase another aircraft. He wrote in a post in November last year, “Gotta set goals in life and my next goal (is) to add to the hanger ... a Piper Twin Comanche. Would look good next to my Cherokee.”
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