Family members of slain Adelaide Crows coach Phil Walsh say they are broken-hearted and miss him “beyond measure”.
Walsh’s wife Meredith has been discharged from Flinders Medical Centre and reunited with daughter Quinn, who flew back to Adelaide from the US after learning of her father’s death.
Walsh’s son Cy, 26, remains in a high-security ward at James Nash House psychiatric facility, and will face court in September, charged with his father’s murder.
Around midnight on Sunday, the Adelaide Football Club released an emailed statement from the Walsh family, which thanked the community “for their overwhelming kindness, sympathy and support during this most difficult time”.
“We take comfort in knowing that so many people are thinking of Phil, and us,” the statement read.
The family are “searching for the strength and will to deal with the loss” and “coping as best we can…in the arms of those we love”.
“Phil loved and adored his family, just as much as we loved and adored him,” the statement continued.
“He was a devoted father, husband, son and brother. He was a much-loved uncle, brother-in-law and cousin, and a close friend, mentor and colleague to so many.
“Our hearts are broken. How much we miss him is beyond measure.”
The family says their lives “will never be the same now that Phil is gone”, but they will “forever love and cherish him”.
“Phil enriched our lives and the lives of so many, and for that we are eternally grateful.”
They request privacy to grieve, but ask the public to “continue to keep Phil and us in your thoughts and prayers”.
On Sunday, around 20,000 football supporters took to Adelaide Oval to show their support. The Crows are this morning expected to announce an interim coach for the remainder of the 2015 season.
