Abbey Bickell

March 15, 2001 - July 19, 2023

Crash Date: July 19, 2023

Abbey Bickell had an adventurous spirit, a feisty determination, and a boundless love for all the people and animals in her life. Abbey built loving friendships and close communities through sports, school, work, and family, and will be remembered for the care and respect she extended to all. 

A competitive swimmer for 7 years, Abbey devoted herself to training and challenging her physical strengths and fortitude, all of which prepared her to work in rescue operations. As a teenager, Abbey joined a private safety and rescue company where she became a qualified Rope & Confined Space Rescue Technician as well as SPRAT Level 1 Rope Access Technician.

Abbey managed to bring an exceptional vitality into life and wanted to try it all. Rock climbing, bungee jumping, no matter the adventure, as long as she was with friends and challenging her own limits, Abbey was in her element. Her dedication to personal growth combined with her passion for adventure brought sheer joy to her life. 

Abbey’s life was stolen in the early morning hours of July 19, 2023. She and a friend were preparing for a day of rescue work together, a day of fun, and catching up, instead they became the faultless victims of an impaired driver. Driving with a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit, he was fleeing the first collision he’d caused, was driving on average 125km/h on 30km/h and 50km/h roads and had run 6 red lights before crashing into Abbey and her friend. Abbey died at the scene, despite the desperate efforts of the first responders, some of whom her heartbroken colleagues. Her friend survived, forever changed, forever haunted.

Shortly before she passed away, Abbey chose her first tattoo in Latin:

Non est vivere sed valere vita est
which loosely translates to,
Living is more than merely being alive

Abbey’s short, yet remarkable life is a reflection of this philosophy.

We miss you Abbey, we love you.