Father-of-two Jacob Vennix, 32, drowned off the coast of Pasut Beach, Bali in a devastating honeymoon tragedy just nine days after marrying 38-year-old Kimberly Ann Fuller
A father-of-two who tragically drowned on his honeymoon nine days after tying the knot has been remembered for a heartwarming gesture just months before his death.
Jacob Vennix, 32, from Adelaide, Australia drowned at Pasut Beach, Bali about 3.50pm local time on Monday after being swept out to sea while his wife, 38-year-old Kimberly Ann Fuller, desperately tried to save him. She rushed onto the shore to get help, before getting back into the water with a chair in an attempt to reach out and save him. He fell unconscious in the sea before he was rescued and later died in hospital.
Now, Jacob’s sister, Claire Brown, has told how the dad took part last year in a 12km blindfolded race to raise money for the visually impaired. The couple’s one-year-old son Cole was born with a bilateral optic nerve hypoplasia, a congenital eye defect that leaves the optic nerves underdeveloped.
She explained: “In September 2024 Jacob ran the City to Bay blindfolded to raise awareness that vision-impaired people can do the same things as those with full sight. Jacob and Kimberley raised money for the Guide Dogs SA/NT.” His sister also shared that her brother had had recently quit his job to “embark on a career in disability support”, which she described as a “career close to his heart”.
Ms Brown has now set up a Gofoundme page to ask for financial support for her sister-in-law. The fundraiser has so far raised $30,140 AUD (£15,000) of a $50,000 (£24,000) AUD target.
According to eyewitnesses, Mr Vennix and his wife were in the water together when he was “swept away by the current”, leading Ms Fuller to rush back to the beach to seek help. After Kimberly attempted rescue with a chair, one nearby local official Mr Vennix went out to retrieve him with a fisherman and his boat, but the boat was capsized by the waves. Mr Vennix had lost consciousness before he was brought back to shore, a police report said, and he was taken to hospital in the town of Tabanan, where he died a short time later.
In a heartbreaking tribute to her husband, Jacob’s wife Ms Fuller wrote on Facebook: “He was the most beautiful human, partner and father. All he wanted was to marry me and love and look after me and the boys. I will make sure the boys know what an angel he was. Now an angel in heaven. I love you my darling. I’m so sorry.”
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been among those to react to Mr Vennix’s tragic death. He wrote on social media: “This is such deeply sad news. Our thoughts are with Jacob’s wife, family and friends.”
