A young mother has described how she married the love of her life just one day before he died of a brain tumour at the age of 22. Maia Falwasser shared a video of the emotional ceremony, in which she wed Navar Herbert, her 'best friend' and the father to her 11-month-old son.
Guests performed a haka as friends and family wept in a garden on Australia's Gold Coast. Mr Herbert, a rugby union player for the Nerang Bulls, died on Tuesday night after a battle with a cancerous sarcoma tumour. He was diagnosed several months ago and his condition rapidly deteriorated.
Ms Falwasser set up a GoFundMe page to raise money to fly Mr Herbert's body back to his hometown of Kotahitanga Marae in New Zealand. In a moving message, she wrote: 'Today my heart is heavy and sad, I lost my best friend, husband and the father to our son. I feel absolutely showered in LOVE by friends and family.'
In the footage, the groom's groomsmen helped him dress before wheeling him outside to await his bride. As she appeared, he held her hand and said: 'Hello my wife, hello my baby. I love you.' The couple exchanged rings and swore to be 'partners for life'.
Mr Herbert's rugby club hosted a celebration of his life on Friday, attended by an estimated 500 people. In a Facebook post, the club wrote: 'Thank you everyone... There had to be over 500 people there today to say goodbye. The love and respect everyone showed was incredible.'
