Max Knight: Father of 5-year-old boy killed in Murphy’s Creek, Queensland motorcycle tragedy is still in a coma
The father of a baby boy who died after suffering horrific 90 per cent burns in a motorbike explosion on Father’s Day is still in a coma and does not know his son is dead.
Max Knight succumbed to his injuries on Monday after his motorbike caught fire at the family estate in Murphy’s Creek in southern Queensland on Sunday.
Max was riding his Yamaha Peewee 50 motorcycle on Father’s Day morning when his father, Harley, stopped to fill up his tank with a jerry can.
Unfortunately, a fire broke out, probably due to engine overheating, and both were seriously injured.
Max was airlifted to Queensland Children’s Hospital where he died of his injuries the following day, with his father still in hospital and unaware of his son’s death.
His mother Emma Whybird revealed in a series of heartbreaking Facebook tributes that she held him “during his passing”.
Max Knight (above) died around 7am on Monday after suffering burns to 90% of his body in a motorbike accident on Sunday
Max’s father Harley (pictured above) suffered burns to 40% of his body in the accident and has since been in an induced coma – he is unaware of Max’s death.
“My beautiful baby boy, I will miss your beautiful smile, your precious hugs, your goodnight kisses, your warm touch,” she wrote.
“It will never be the same without you Max. My heart hurts so much for not cuddling you to sleep and reading your favorite books to you.
“I wish you could come back to me, my precious boy. Max, you will always be in mom and dad’s life forever.
“We love you so much my darling little Max, the cavalier knight.”
Harley suffered burns to approximately 40% of her body, primarily to her face, chest, and arms.
He remains in an induced coma at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital while doctors wait for his condition to stabilize enough to be able to operate on him.
He won’t learn of his five-year-old son’s death until he wakes up, which is expected to be Thursday or Friday.
Ms Whybird said her “heart ached” thinking about that conversation.
Max’s grandfather, Tennocy Knight, described his grandson as “a good little kid”.
Max’s mother Emma Whybird (pictured above) said she had to ‘hold him in his arms while he passed away’
Max (above) was described as a ‘good little kid’, with Ms Whybird writing: ‘You will always be in mum and dad’s life forever’.
“He lived his life to the full, like his father. It’s been a really tough day for us and we’re just trying to deal with the loss,” he told the Chronicle of Toowoomba Monday.
“The hardest thing for us as a family was sitting next to his bed and doing nothing.”
He described Max and Harley as a close father-son duo.
“Motorcycles were their life, they loved riding together and they also loved fishing,” Mr Knight said.
