Devastating pregnancy twist after star's death
Joel Evans was injured in a crash while riding in the elite division of a ProMX Championship event at the Gillman Speedway in Adelaide's northern suburbs on Sunday afternoon.
The event was called off and Mr Evans was rushed to hospital, where he died later that day.
Michaela Hurt, Mr Evans' fiancee, revealed her pregnancy in a bittersweet tribute to her late partner, referring to her unborn child as their 'silver lining'.
'Our beautiful Joely … a piece of you lives on,' Ms Hurt wrote in a social media post, referring to the child, due in October.
'Yesterday we lost the most incredible person on this earth.'
'The most authentic, loved and kind hearted soul.
'He loved and devoted his life to this sport which brought him so much joy and he rode it out right till the end.' Joel Evans was due to become a father in October, with his fiance Michaela Hurt expecting their child. Instagram Credit: Supplied
Ms Hurt thanked everyone who would keep Mr Evans' memory alive.
'We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and support for our beautiful man,' she wrote.
'He is such a loved partner, uncle, brother, friend and son but most proudly a father to our adored little boy who is joining us in October.'
'Please share his name, share his legacy, this incredible man deserves to be remembered across the generations.
'We love you so much Joely.'
The couple were engaged in October of last year.
Although now a single mother, Ms Hurt will be supported by loving friends and family, with Mr Evans' sister vowed to be by her side. Ms Hurt won't raise their child alone as friends and family have vowed to support her. Instagram Credit: Supplied The couple became engaged last year. Instagram Credit: Supplied
'I am lost for words, but I'll try,' Alex wrote in a heartwrenching social media post of her own.
'On Sunday I lost so much more than a brother. You were my best friend, the godfather to my babies, it felt like twins, you were such a piece to my puzzle. My boys were so lucky to have you.
'To our best friend Michaela I wish I could take your heartache and pain. I promise to support, care and love for you and my gorgeous boy coming as best I can. The way Joely would want me to.
'To my family I'm sure people get through this, it will take time for us to navigate that.
'You are supposed to still be here, this was not the way it was meant to be, I don't want to believe it and in this moment I honestly am not sure how to do it without you.'
She said her brother was 'doing what he loved and was in one of the happiest eras of his life'. This comes after Mr Evans died in a crash at a track near Port Adelaide. Instagram Credit: Supplied
Motocross clubs around the world have also shared condolences, as have parents whose children were trained by Mr Evans in his home state of Queensland.
A message has been posted to his official Facebook page, which has 27,000 followers, which said the 30-year-old was expecting to become a father.
'Yesterday we lost the most incredible person on this earth. The most authentic, loved and kind hearted soul,' the message reads.
'He loved and devoted his life to this sport which brought him so much joy and he rode it out right till the end. We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and support for our beautiful man.
'He is such a loved partner, uncle, brother, friend and son but most proudly a father to our adored little boy who is joining us in October.'
Mr Evans' sister, Renae, said her family had been 'changed forever'.
'What do you say when you have no words? Yesterday our lives changed forever,' she wrote.
Her sibling was the 'best brother a girl could ask for, and an even greater uncle for my girls', she said.
'We love you so much buddy. More than you'll ever understand. Ride. In. Peace #81.
'And for those reading. Hug your loved ones extra today, and please don't ever take your time for granted.
'Tomorrow isn't promised for any of us.'
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