Family heartbroken after dad's boat stolen hours following his death

A Queensland family is appealing for the return of their father’s boat after thieves stole it within hours of his death.

A woman known as Lee, who lives at Boronia Heights in Logan, south of Brisbane, told Yahoo News her father Michael died at their home on Friday morning.

Michael, 64, had been battling leukaemia.

“At about 3.30pm that day I took him to the crematorium,” she said.

“I woke up at about 7am the following day (Saturday), walked outside and it was gone.”

Lee said she and her brother Kyle are heartbroken.

Kyle is in the US on his honeymoon, and Lee had to break the news to him of not only their father’s death but the stolen boat.

“I’m crushed,” she said.

“It had part of my dad and was meant for my brother.

“I feel like instead of being able to grieve the day after his death I spent all of it on Facebook and on the phone with police trying to get back the boat.

“They stole my grieving time from me.”

Queensland Police have confirmed they are investigating the theft.

The boat had been purchased months ago. Lee’s brother Kyle and her dad were modifying the vessel and added a shade structure with an automatic starting engine.

Lee said the boat was part of her brother’s inheritance and can’t understand why anyone would have stolen it.

It was last used by him for Kyle’s buck’s party at Somerset Dam two weeks ago.

“It was something really special for my brother,” she said.

“I know my dad - he didn’t have any gripes with anybody.”

Kyle wrote on Facebook the family is offering a $1000 reward for the boat’s return.

Its trailer registration number is CW3378 with boat registration number: WK348Q.

If you have any information regarding this incident you can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report anonymously via the online reporting page.

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