Australian cricket legend Andrew Symonds died on Saturday in a car crash. 

Speaking to The Courier Mail, his wife said, “We are still in shock – I’m just thinking of the two kids.”

“He was such a big person and there is just so much of him in his kids. He was the most laid back person. Nothing stressed him out. He was an extremely chilled operator. So practical. He was never good with his phone but he always had time for everyone.”

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Laura, their daughter Chloe and son Billy flew from Sydney to Townsville after being informed of the 46-year-old’s death.

Symonds and Laura met in 2004 when she was studying at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and was assigned to work with the Queensland Bulls’ strength and conditioning department. They became friends.

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In 2009, on Melbourne Cup Day, he messaged her asking if she had a tip. When the horse won, the two celebrated the victory with a dinner at his home. 

“He’d caught these crabs and fish and laid the table with all this beautiful seafood, and I didn’t eat seafood at the time. I thought, oh no, how am I going to get through this?” Laura recalled in an interview with The Courier-Mail.

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They eventually tied the knot in 2014, a year after the birth of their son.

When Laura was pregnant with their second child, Symonds chose to retire. This happened during the 6th season of the Indian Premier League. 

“He was over the game at the time,” Laura said. “Not his teammates, but the politics and the negativity. He needed to get back up here [to Townsville]. He has everything he needs to be happy up here. It’s his paradise.”