A mother has recalled the final conversation she had with her rower son on the morning before he died.
Edward Millear, 17, died after collapsing on Tuesday during a training session with Melbourne Grammar’s second XIII rowing crew on the Yarra River.
Bystanders administered CPR until Ed was rushed to the Alfred hospital on Tuesday night.
But the schoolboy tragically died at 3am on Wednesday surrounded by his family.
His mother, Dimity Millear, said she had dropped Ed off at school that morning and he had told her: ‘Love you. See you tonight’.
Ms Millear said she had received a lot of support from the families of Ed’s mates, coaches and staff, and the prestigious school’s wider community.
‘Ed loved his family, his friends, rowing, rugby and his girlfriend Mackenzie,’ she told the Herald Sun.
‘They all made him into the beautiful young man he was.’
Ed Millear (pictured), a Year 12 student at Melbourne Grammar School, died on Tuesday afternoon
Seven students manned a shell with Ed’s seat filled by a bouquet of white flowers on Saturday
More than 100 students and parents lined the banks of the Yarra River at the Australian Henley Regatta on Saturday, in an emotional return to racing in the City.
Ed’s former teammates led a procession down the river following the day’s races.
The boat was manned by just seven rowers, with a bouquet of white flowers in Ed’s seat, and the crew held a minutes silence for the memory of their mate.
Floral tributes also lined the Melbourne Grammar boatshed on Boathouse Drive and parents were seen wiping tears from their eyes as they made their way back from the riverbank.
Last week, Melbourne Grammar headmaster Phillip Grutzner said students affected by the loss would receive support from the school.
‘The school community is in mourning for this wonderful young man, taken far too soon,’ Mr Grutzner said in a statement on Wednesday.
‘He was a cheerful, friendly and easy-going person who demonstrated great care and empathy for his fellow students and for others through enthusiastic participation in service activities.
‘In relation to his studies, he was hardworking and diligent. He aspired to a career in the commerce sector in the future.
It’s understood the 17-year-old (pictured) had just finished a training session on a rowing machine before he collapsed at the school’s boat shed
Ed is pictured with his rowing team
‘He was a keen rugby player, playing in the First XV last year, and a valued member of the Second XIII rowing crew.’
Ed is survived by mother, Dimity, father, Spencer, and siblings, Simon and Eleanor.
The family also thanked the paramedics who tried to revive Ed at the boat shed.
Ed recently competed at Nagambie in the state’s north as part of the school’s second eight and was due to take part in the Australian Henley Regatta this weekend.
His family had a long-standing connection to the school with Ed’s great-great-great-grandfather graduating from Melbourne Grammar in 1884.
