Hannah Richell has shared her experience of grief following the death of her husband, Matt, in a surfing accident in Sydney in July 2014. Police officers arrived at her home on an ordinary Wednesday afternoon in the first week of July to deliver the news.
Richell recounted receiving a call from her husband's PA, who had been contacted by a Bondi detective asking for her address and unable to reach Matt. Upon arriving home, she found two plainclothes police officers waiting inside.
After being informed of the accident, Richell travelled to the morgue. She described the body as belonging to her husband but not being the man she knew. During her time there, she noticed grains of Tamarama sand fall from his hand.
Richell later spoke with Adam, a friend who was with Matt when he died. They met in a park where Adam recounted details of the accident, including their joy paddling out from Bronte beach.