Here's a capsule from 1986. Perhaps some of you recall this story, but I certainly don't.
Rest in peace, Karl.
Karl Edwards: The 'bronzed Aussie' who knew life was for living
By Johnny O'Shea
BBC News
As they walk down a stone stairwell to the sands of the English seaside resort of Newquay, thousands of beach-goers pass - but do not notice - a plaque reading "Karl's Steps".
Even for the observant and curious, the details are difficult to find. As an internet search term, it brings up no relevant results.
There are, however, a few people in the Cornish town who remember a 22-year-old lifeguard who had only been there for six weeks. Who remember a spirited and popular Australian with a sense of wanderlust. Who remember 1986 and the freak accident and the unlucky death. Who remember Karl Edwards.
[...]
The previous night, their 22-year-old son Karl - the oldest of their five children - had been out with some of the friends he'd made while working as a lifeguard in Newquay.
He was on the dance floor of a nightclub, jumping around and lifting people up in the air as he sang along to his favourite song, Spirit in the Sky:
When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best
When I lay me down to die
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky
Earlier in the evening, the young lifeguard had been talking to his friend Brenda McCallum, telling her his bank card had been stolen and that his radio had been taken as he gave a girl first aid on the beach.
She reassured him, "Well at least things can't get any worse for you, Karl".
The following afternoon, on what would have been a day off had he not volunteered for an extra shift, Karl was in the small lifeguard hut on Towan Beach when 40 tonnes of sliding cliff fell on top of it.
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