Flood victim faces second tragedy days before baby is due
<p dir="ltr">Months after losing everything in the Lismore floods, a woman has faced another loss, after her partner suddenly passed away days before their baby was due to be born.</p>
<p dir="ltr">John Lush, better known as Gruntus, regularly performed as a comedian, actor, singer, and musician and was a legend in the NSW Northern Rivers community.</p>
<p dir="ltr">On Saturday night, during the Lismore Lantern Parade that aimed to help “heal hearts”, the 43-year-old suffered a heart attack.</p>
<p dir="ltr">After being treated at the scene, Lush was rushed to Lismore Base Hospital where he later died.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Lush leaves behind his partner, Vivian, who is preparing to give birth to their first child, as well as two young children.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Ebony Scott, a close friend of Lush, told <em><a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/flood-victim-loses-partner-days-from-giving-birth-093108349.html?guccounter=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo News Australia</a></em> that the couple were “overjoyed” to bring their “little bundle into the world”.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“John was particularly excited. He was an incredible daddy to his other two children and would have been amazing with this little bub,” Scott said.</p>
<p dir="ltr">As Vivian prepares to give birth “any day now”, the community has rallied behind the family, who had faced several “extremely challenging” months in the wake of the floods.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Viv is an incredibly strong person [and] she is holding up as best as can be hoped for,” Scott said.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“She takes every day as it comes and I have no doubt she will in time enjoy a fabulous life with her little bub, embracing the cherished memories of John.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“She has the love and support of family, friends and a whole community of people behind her.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">Scott recalled how Lush was an “incredible, strong and resilient person” who always looked out for others, particularly after the floods.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“He personally helped so many people come to terms with the devastation that the floods caused,” she said.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“He was devoted to Viv and his kids. John was the heart of Lismore and is completely irreplaceable.”</p>
<p dir="ltr">After Scott set up a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/john-gruntus-lush" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe page</a> to pay for Lush’s funeral and help Vivian raise their child, over $24,000 has been raised within a few days, with many donors leaving kind messages for Vivian and the family.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Others have paid tribute to Lush on social media, with many sharing heartfelt messages dedicated to ‘Gruntus’.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“[It was] so sudden and totally unexpected,” one person wrote. "Doing what he loved, with the love of his life, Vivian, and their unborn child.</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Gruntus is a Lismore icon, his talents were amazing and varied. He was an amazing human being with a big heart and a love of Lismore like no other."</p>
<p dir="ltr">“He was always a cheerful man, trying to see the best in any situation, even if he was going through his own stuff,” another said</p>
<p dir="ltr">“Knowing John has been an absolute pleasure.”</p>
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<p dir="ltr"><em>Image: GoFundMe</em></p>
