Apprentice jockey Amy Graham has shared an emotional farewell to Chris Caserta on the morning his physique was recovered, 36 hours after the pair’s ill-fated swim.
Surf Life Saving Queensland lifesavers found Caserta within the waters off Predominant Seaside at round 8.30am on Friday morning.
The 26-year-old Victorian jockey had been lacking since going swimming with Graham at Surfers Paradise on Wednesday evening.
The pair have been caught in a rip, with Graham reliving her determined bid to rescue Caserta earlier than swimming to security.
“I’m lost for words,” she wrote on Friday morning.
“It hit hard this morning when I realised your smiling face wouldn’t be seen to greet me at work any more.
“I don’t even know how to feel, I don’t know what to say except that I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I couldn’t save you.
“I tried so, so hard to make sure we both got out of there alive. Wherever you are, please know that I did everything I could to save you, and I wish I could have done more.
“I can’t stop asking why you, and not me. Why were you taken from us. You didn’t deserve this, you are the most incredible, positive, nicest guy anyone has met.
“All you ever wanted was to see your mates do well, and you are always willing to help anyone who needed it. You always hyped me up and gave me confidence in myself as a jockey.
“Wednesday night was the most traumatic, scariest and saddest night of my life.
“Neither of us intended for such an innocent decision to turn out so bad. You just wanted to live in the moment and be unapologetically you.
“Who would ever think something like this would happen to yourself or your mates. Sadly for all of us still here, your angels had other plans for you.
“But we all miss you, and everyone is praying for a miracle. I wish I could just wake up and this all be a bad dream.
“Chris, rest easy and keep smiling up there. We all love you.”
Good friend and former jockey Stacey Rawiller had on Thursday shared an emotional compilation of images and movies, together with clips of the fun-loving Caserta singing and dancing on the monitor.
“I’m going to miss you little bro,” she wrote.
“Thank you for all of the amazing memories and laughs we shared. You touched every single person you met along the way.”
A Victorian who moved to Queensland to additional his racing profession, Caserta recorded over 150 profession wins value over $5 million in prize cash.
Racing Victoria, the Victorian Jockeys Affiliation, the Australian Jockeys Affiliation and Racing Queensland have supplied assist and counselling to the trade.
