Our hearts go out to them

PRAYER services were held across Wagga yesterday commemorating the lives of 13-year-old Patrick Langfield and his 43-year-old father Ray.

The pair was taken tragically in the early hours of Saturday morning and leave behind a loving mother and wife, Debbie, 42, and two younger siblings and children, aged 11 and eight.

Facebook and other social media outlets have been flooded with tributes for Patrick, a year 7 student at Mater Dei Catholic College and former Mater Dei Catholic Primary School captain, who is being remembered as a beautiful kid and a “truly great friend”.

As an enthusiastic athlete, Patrick was the captain of the 2011 Lake Albert Red Sharks premiership-winning soccer team and member of the Wagga Tigers under 12s premiership side. Earlier this year he was also selected to represent Wagga in the under 13s soccer team.

Expressing their condolences to the Langfield family, Mater Dei Catholic Primary School principal Danny Malone and Mater Dei Catholic College principal Greg Miller paid tribute to the “wonderful young man” Patrick was.

“He had a warm, welcoming nature and took a genuine interest in all people, young and old,” Mr Malone said. “People were drawn to him because of his kindhearted manner.

“His enthusiasm for all tasks and natural leadership skills made him a great role model for others and perhaps the greatest compliment that can be given to Pat would be the esteem in which he was held by his peers, staff and other members of both school communities.”

For the past 10 years Ray Langfield had been employed as a licensed aircraft maintenance engineer with Regional Express (Rex). In that time, Rex general manager for network strategy Warrick Lodge said Mr Langfield had been a diligent worker who was widely respected and valued by his co-workers and the wider company.

“From a company perspective Ray was always willing to do what ever work needed to be done,” Mr Lodge said.

“Rex is both shocked and saddened by the news. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Ray’s family and those in the local community touched by this tragedy.”

While police investigations into the cause of their deaths continue, the Mater Dei Catholic College and Mater Dei Catholic Primary School communities have rallied around the family, offering support to Mrs Langfield, who is the religious education co-ordinator at the college.

Neighbours of the small cul-de-sac expressed their sadness and loss yesterday, describing the Langfields as “a happy family and the nicest people”. Reflecting on the tragic turn of events at weekend they wrote, “just a tragedy; our street will remember this day for a very long time. RIP boys”.

The tragic incident has left the Wagga community shell shocked.