Friends and workmates mourn loss of Miles electrician

By HARRY CLARKE

A WELL respected electrician from Miles is being remembered as a “great guy” who was “really down to earth” and “an exceptional tradesman”, two weeks after his body was recovered from a dam on Queensland’s Southern Downs.

Joshua O’Kelly, 26, had been fishing with a friend at Glenlyon Dam on the NSW boarder near Texas on Sunday, April 2, when he fell from a boat about 5.30pm.

His body was recovered about 9am the following morning during a search involving the QPS dive squad, water police, SES and local officers from Stanthorpe and Texas.

As mourners prepare to farewell Mr O’Kelly at a funeral this Friday in Brisbane’s north, he is being remembered through tributes online as a beloved friend and a valued workmate.

A post on the Facebook page of Mr O’Kelly’s employer, Miles business CRC Electrical & Refrigeration, said “with great sadness we (would) like to advise of the loss of one of our own Josh O’Kelly”.

“Josh was an exceptional tradesman and great guy, respected and liked by all who knew him,” the post said.

A colleague told the Caller Mr O’Kelly was “pretty well the nicest bloke you’d ever meet. He died doing what he loved doing – fishing with his mate. It was only a couple of weekends ago that we were fishing together and we were having a ball.”

“He worked at CRC Electrical since he was 15. He was family to a lot of us. He was one of CRC’s top electricians.”

Another friend told the Caller “it’s very unfortunate, what’s happened. He was very easy going, just a really down to earth person.”

On an online memorial page Alex Mckellar wrote to family: “My heart aches for you during this time. I cannot imagine the pain from the loss of a son, a brother and all round exceptional man, but know that you are in my prayers.”

“I had the pleasure of working with Josh for quite a lot of years and seeing him grow into the exceptional man and tradesman he became is something you should be very proud of. 

“Josh had the world at his feet and was destined for great things in life.”

Mr O’Kelly’s funeral on Friday will be live streamed via K.M. Smith Funeral Directors.