One of Western Australia’s well-known farming families says it will be be “forever broken” following the loss of their “down-to-earth country kid” who died while responding to a bushfire in the state’s south.
Volunteer firefighter Harry Stead was attending a blaze on a farming property near Coomalbidgup, about 640 kilometres south east of Perth in the Shire of Esperance, when he died on Tuesday.
Police are investigating and believe the 20-year-old was helping his neighbour tackle the bushfire.
Authorities say he was part of a crew operating a private firefighting vehicle.
Mr Stead was from the small farming community of Cascade, with father Simon Stead appointed chair of CBH grain cooperative in 2020.
The family have a mixed sheep, cattle and cropping farm in Cascade and Dalyup, to the east of Esperance.
In a statement, the Stead family said they were ‘immensely proud” of their son and brother.
“Harry loved his family and the bond he had with his three siblings was truly beautiful,” the family said.
“He loved his mates and living life to the fullest. He loved dogs, coffee, Pepsi Max and Swan Draught.
“Harry was kind, fun-loving and active, and always there to help with family and with community.
“He had a big circle of friends and he touched many lives. Harry was respectful with a beautiful, understated sense of humour.
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