Backpacker killed one day before he was due to leave Australia
The 23-year-old affectionately known as Apo is being remembered for his caring nature.
A young Italian backpacker was heading to his own farewell party when tragedy struck, a day before he was due to leave Australia.
Jacopo Martini, 23, had just finished his three-month rural stint of working at Sumich West Hill Farm in Western Australia, and was going to fly to Bali with friends the next day, before returning to Italy for his nephew's birth, The West Australian reports.
But on Friday evening, he along with three others were involved in a car crash where Mr Martini tragically lost his life.
The red Mitsubishi Lancer he was a passenger in had smashed into a Toyota Hilux ute driving in the opposite direction on Indian Ocean Drive, at the intersection of Lancelin Road.
Luca Calliari, the 24-year-old driver, was taken to Royal Perth Hospital for critical injuries and the other two passengers sustained serious injuries and were also taken to hospital for treatment, WA Police report. The 29-year-old male driver of the Toyota Hilux and his two adult passengers suffered minor injuries.
Mr Martini's brother Giuseppe, who was not in the car, was also working with him at the farm and had to deliver the heartbreaking news to his family overseas.
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'He was our little one'
Mr Martini has been described by his aunt and uncle as "always friendly, always available, always very sweet," according to Italian media, The West Australian reports.
"He was our little one," they said. "He was happy and outgoing. He was about to close his adventure in Australia and was ready to go home; he wanted to be there for the birth of his future nephew.”
A GoFundMe has been set up for Mr Martini — affectionately known as Apo — by his friends for funeral costs and the "considerable costs involved" to repatriate his body to Italy.
"Parents, siblings, all loved ones, friends and people who care about him would like him to come home, we would like to have him back here with us," the GoFundMe says. "Every little help could be really important. Heartfelt thanks to all". More than $50,000 has been raised and the fundraiser has now been disabled for new donations.
Anyone with information about the crash, or who saw either of the cars involved in the time leading up to the crash, is urged to call WA Crime Stoppers.
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