Craig Parkes was a cherished individual, deeply loved by his family and community. As a father of four, a dedicated foster carer, and a grandfather to seven, he was also a devoted son and brother. His legacy extends beyond his immediate family, touching the lives of many who knew him.

The tragic incident that led to Parkes’s untimely passing has sparked an extensive investigation, reaching beyond national borders. Authorities are now considering the possibility that the driver involved in the accident may have fled the country.

In a significant development, a vehicle with significant front-end damage has been impounded from an apartment in Dee Why. This discovery could provide crucial evidence as the investigation progresses.

Craig Parkes received immediate medical attention at the scene of the accident before being transported to Royal Shore Hospital in critical condition. Despite the best efforts of medical professionals, he sadly succumbed to his injuries while in the hospital.

In his final act, Parkes demonstrated his enduring generosity as an organ donor, a decision that has already saved multiple lives. His family takes solace in knowing that his compassionate spirit continues to make a positive impact even after his passing.

Statement from Craig Parkes’ family:

“Our dad was the best man we knew.

“It has been the greatest privilege and one of the biggest blessings of our lives to be his children. To be loved by our dad was something truly special. We always knew we were loved, and we always knew he was proud of us. He was a constant source of strength, guidance and unconditional support, and we were so incredibly proud to call him our dad.

“He was a beloved father of four, a foster carer, a grandfather to seven, a son, and brother. He was an ultimate family man who adored his children and his grandchildren. Everyone loved our dad because he was generous, genuine, kind and deeply caring.

“He was a man of duty, loyalty and responsibility. He showed his care through action — he would give anything to anyone. He could build or fix anything, and he carried himself with an old-school integrity that feels rare today. Yet he was also a massive softy: open-minded, accepting, happy to be proven wrong, and someone who took people exactly as they came.

“Dad was also an accomplished and experienced triathlete, recently competing for Australia at the World Championships. He was a safe and responsible rider, simply out enjoying some exercise on a Sunday morning, minding his own business. He did not deserve to die in such a horrific way.

“Dad also had a lifelong love of rugby league. In his younger years, he played reserve grade for the Balmain Tigers, and that love of the game — and of the Wests Tigers — was proudly passed down to his children.

“We are working closely with police and will do everything in our power to ensure justice for our dad. We also appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or who has information — no matter how small it may seem — to please come forward and contact police. That information could be critical.

“While justice matters deeply to us, we do not want our dad’s story to be defined solely by the way his life was taken, but by the extraordinary man he was and the values he lived by.

“We would like to sincerely thank the incredible staff at Royal North Shore Hospital, who treated our dad with the utmost care, compassion and dignity. Their kindness and professionalism during the most difficult days of our lives will never be forgotten. Dad received a large guard of honour, and knowing him, he would have absolutely loved that — and been deeply humbled by it.

“Dad fought right to the very end. In true Parkesy fashion, his final act was one of extraordinary generosity. He gave everything he could so that others could live. He donated his liver, his kidneys, and his heart of gold. He would give anything to anyone — and in the end, he even gave someone his heart.

“Because of him, multiple people have been given the chance at life. Somewhere out there, our dad will live on — in the heartbeat of a stranger. He has always been our hero, and now he is someone else’s hero too.

“Taken far too soon in a tragic accident, our dad has left a hole that can never be filled. He was selfless in every part of his life, always putting others before himself — and even in his passing, that generosity continued.

“We want our dad to be remembered for the love he gave, the lives he touched, and the man he was — selfless to the very end.

“May you rest in eternal peace, Dad.”