Young FIFO worker identified as victim of horror WA crash
Junbo Shim, 22, recently moved to Perth from South Korea to start a new life as a worker in the mines.
On June 25, tragedy struck when Mr Shim and his girlfriend were hit by a reckless driver who was fleeing police at the intersection of Hale Road and Tonkin Highway in Forrestfield at about 10.17pm.
Mitchell Boskov, 26, was driving a white Nissan Navara utility when he allegedly ran a red light and smashed into Mr Shim's blue Ford Falcon station wagon.
Mr Boskov was charged with manslaughter, reckless driving to escape a police pursuit, reckless driving causing bodily harm in circumstances of aggravation, and driving without authority. Emergency services at the scene of a crash in Forrestfield on Wednesday night. Credit: 7NEWS / 7NEWS
Mr Shim's girlfriend received non-life-threatening injuries.
The loss of the 22-year-old, who was living in Kalamunda, has rocked the Perth Hills community, according to long-term resident Linda Harrup.
Ms Harrup met with Mr Shim's mother, father and brother on Wednesday when they arrived in Perth to bring their son home.
'I don't know this family, I didn't know who they are, all I knew is their son is the same age as my son and that could've been him like we drive through there all the time so I just had to find them and they are beautiful,' she said.
'If your child was in another country you would want people looking after him and after the family and that's what we do in Australia we help people.' Ms Harrup met with Mr Shim's mother, father and brother on Wednesday when they arrived in Perth to bring their son home. Credit: Facebook
Ms Harrup said meeting the family was extremely emotional but it helped her grieve the loss of a close friend who died in a car accident a few months ago.
'We basically just sat there hugging each other for the first minute,' she said.
'His mum just fell apart in my arms... we shared lots of tears today, and photos,
'So much was communicated through the photos that they showed me of him in Australia and you could just see he was embracing it with his whole heart, it was evident from sitting with the family that he would've been a beautiful person.'
Ms Harrup has started a GoFundMe on behalf of the Perth hills community in an attempt to ease the financial pressure the Shim family is facing.
'I will also be approaching the Kalamunda Shire to see if there is the possibilty of recognising Junbo in some way in one of our parks,' he said.
'A reminder to all of us that we have adopted this young man as one of ours,
'I told the family today they are now one of ours, a hills family who we will always remember.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
7NEWS
5 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Teen girl fighting for life after horror crash at Burswood car meet
A 17-year-old girl is fighting for life after being struck by a car at a car meet on Monday night. The teen was trying to cross Camfield Drive in in Burswood, WA, just before 10pm, which was lined by spectators, when she was hit by a black Honda Civic sedan. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today She suffered multiple broken bones and was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital in a critical condition. Mobile phone footage captured two cars speeding past spectators gathered outside the Crown complex. Police said the incident occurred as a pre-arranged car meet was dispersing. 'We'll be alleging excessive speed was involved, and other organisers have canceled similar meets or events later this week,' Police Commissioner Col Blanch said. The meet was part of a regular event known as Mondaymeets, which draws large crowds of car enthusiasts each week. Blanch said police were present earlier in the evening and had impounded a vehicle just before the crash. 'I think what we will do as a result is crank down even more and make sure that the behaviour of these organised car meets ... what we don't support is reckless and dangerous behavior that results in these tragedies,' he said. The 25-year-old male driver of the Honda was not injured and is assisting police with their investigation.
Perth Now
9 hours ago
- Perth Now
Skincare CEO's partner allegedly killed in his front yard
A homicide investigation is underway after a 57-year-old man was found stabbed to death outside his luxury beachfront property on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. Emergency services were called to a home on Napalle Street, Warana, just after 7.30pm on Sunday after a neighbour found the man unresponsive in his front yard. Police confirmed the man had sustained multiple stab wounds to his abdomen and was declared dead at the scene. A crime scene has been established and detectives have launched a homicide investigation. The man has not been formally identified by police, but property records confirm the Warana home is co-owned by skincare entrepreneur Gry Susann Tomte and her partner Zdravko Bilic. It is understood Ms Tomte was interstate at the time of the incident and became concerned about Mr Bilic's welfare before asking a neighbour to check on him. There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Ms Tomte. Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the man's death and have called on anyone with information or CCTV from the area between 11pm Sunday, July 13, and 7.35pm Monday, July 14, to come forward. The couple purchased the five-bedroom, three-bathroom property in 2022 for $2.5 million. The upscale two-storey home sits in a tightly held pocket of Warana, one of the Sunshine Coast's most sought-after beachside suburbs, known for its multi million-dollar homes. Ms Tomte is the founder of Melbourne-based skincare clinic HUD Skin and Body, which has locations in St Kilda and Northcote. She has previously spoken publicly about her struggles with acne, her Norwegian background, and her experience navigating small business through COVID-19 lockdowns. Sunshine Coast man Zdravko Bilic found stabbed to death outside luxury Warana home. Credit: Gry Tomte / Facebook Described as a self-made entrepreneur, she has built a successful brand with a loyal clientele and multiple industry awards. She is scheduled to appear as a speaker at the Brisbane Aesthetic Summit next week. Posts on the couple's social media accounts show their shared love of travel, their dog on the nearby beach, and overseas trips to New York and Europe. Locals have been left stunned by the killing in what is typically considered a quiet, upmarket part of the Kawana Waters area. Warana has a median house price of $1.5 million and a reputation as one of the safest suburbs in the region. Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000.
Perth Now
10 hours ago
- Perth Now
Eerie final text sent by missing man
The unsettling final text sent by a man who vanished in Italy has been revealed by his close friend. Matthew Hall, 33, has been missing since July 9 after he set off from Ploncher hotel in Chiavenna and went for a hike in the Alps. He was supposed to return home to the UK on Saturday, but The Mirror reported that he is yet to make contact with his friends or family. Mr Hall's friend has now shared the final message he received before the hiker vanished. It said 'I lost the path and stopped to rest'. The message was sent at 1.20pm local time on July 9. Since then, no one has heard from him. Hotel staff raised concerns after Mr Hall failed to attend breakfast for several days. They had initially thought this was because he was going for hikes early in the morning, before staff were on shift. When Mr Hall did not attend check out on July 11, the hotel's owners investigated his room and discovered his backpack was missing. Mr Hall's mother, Sara Foster, said she feels like she is living 'someone else's nightmare'. She has been waiting for updates from the local Italian authorities, and has been overwhelmed with support from the public. 'I've just been blown sideways by all of his friends. I didn't know them all but I do now. The way that they have just leapt into action has been unbelievable, it really has. I obviously realise that he's very loved,' she said. Search teams have now been deployed in the area in an effort to find Mr Hall, including his friends and colleagues. Five of his friends and six staff members from his workplace Quickline Communications have flown in from his home in port town, Hull. Ms Foster said she is 'so grateful to everyone' and remains hopeful that her son will be okay. 'That's given us some hope – and he's fit, he's resourceful, so that's what's keeping me positive.' Mr Hall's friends have taken to Facebook to express their concern. 'Aw mate, please be safe,' one friend wrote.
