Former Greens politician Jeremy Buckingham has shared a heartbreaking tribute to his son Eden, who tragically took his own life a day after revealing he had “suffered the most evil abuse” from a family member.
The former member of the Greens party said his “beautiful golden boy” had been battling mental health issues for most of his life.
“These are the hardest, unbearable words,” Mr Buckingham wrote on Facebook on Friday.
“My beautiful, golden boy Eden is gone. I love him so much and can’t believe I have to go on without him. Tragically he took his own life on Monday.
“His family and friends knew his struggle, that his mental health had been challenging since a very young age, but Eden battled hard - he was a sensitive, intelligent, warrior.
Mr Buckingham said his beloved son could not live with the shame and guilt of alleged abuse from a relative.
“Eden couldn’t live with his truth, telling us a day before he passed that he had suffered the most evil abuse from a relative,” Mr Buckingham continued.
“His trust, faith and hope were shattered. He couldn’t live with the secret shame and guilt, and couldn’t live with the truth revealed.
“He said he didn’t want to be the guy that this had happened to. It was too much for him. I understand and am not angry at him. I know why.”
An NSW police spokesperson said Eden’s body was found around 4pm Wednesday near a walking track in Bellingen on the mid north coast of NSW.
“Officers from Coffs/Clarence Police District commenced inquiries to locate a man last seen at a home in Bellingen on Monday,” the police spokesperson said.
“Following extensive enquiries, a man’s body was located a short distance from a walking track in Bellingen about 4pm yesterday.
“A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.”
Hundreds of comments of sympathy and support flooded Mr Buckingham’s post.
“No parent should ever have to bury their child. So sorry for your family’s huge loss & the anguish your son must have been going through,” one user wrote.
“I can’t imagine anything more unbearable than to lose your child, particularly under these circumstance,” another commented.
“What terribly painful news. My condolences to you and your family Jeremy. May you find solace in your time of sorrow, somehow at sometime,” another Facebook user wrote.
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