The fiancee of motocross star Joel Evans has revealed she is pregnant with their son as she mourns him after his tragic death aged just 30.
The racer from Kingaroy, Queensland was competing at the ProMX Championship at Gilman in Adelaide’s north when tragedy struck at around 3.20pm on Sunday.
Emergency services were called to the track and the competition was abandoned while Evans was rushed to hospital, where he died.
South Australian Police confirmed he sustained serious injuries in the crash, and officers have asked that anyone who was at the race and has footage of the incident contact CrimeStoppers.
Evans’ fiancee Michaela Hurt made the heartbreaking revelation in an Instagram post in which she paid tribute to the love of her life.
‘Yesterday we lost the most incredible person on this earth. The most authentic, loved and kind hearted soul,’ she wrote.
Joel Evans is pictured with his fiancee Michaela Hurt, who has revealed she’s due to give birth to their baby son in October
Hurt described her fiance as ‘the most incredible person on this earth’ as she mourned him after his tragic death on Sunday
Hurt also posted these photos of her cradling her growing baby bump
‘He loved and devoted his life to this sport which brought him so much joy and he rode it out right till the end.
‘We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and support for our beautiful man.
‘He is such a loved partner, uncle, brother, friend and son but most proudly a father to our adored little boy who is joining us in October.
‘Please share his name, share his legacy, this beautiful man deserves to be remembered across the generations.
‘We love you so much Joely.’
Evans’ sister Renae Ferris also posted an emotional online tribute after the awful news broke.
‘What do you say when you have no words? Yesterday our lives changed forever,’ she wrote.
‘I could never have imagined that it was going to be the day that my little brother took his final breath.
Evans – who had fought back from almost being paralysed in a previous accident – is being mourned by family and friends
Hurt is pictured in hospital with Evans just after he broke two vertebrae in his neck in 2015
Police have appealed for help from witnesses to the crash that killed the Queensland-born racer (pictured with Hurt)
‘Joel was doing what he loved and was in one of the happiest eras in his life but that doesn’t make saying goodbye any easier.
‘He used to joke about not wanting to get old, now he never has to.
‘The best brother a girl could ask for and an even greater uncle for my girls.’
MXRP Motorcycle Performance also mourned Evans – who leaves behind his fiancee Michaela Hurt – in a statement made on Monday.
‘Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to Joel Evans, his family & close friends,’ it read.
‘If we talked about passion for the sport of Motocross in Australia, Joel was that guy, he brought the same passion & drive to go racing year after year.
‘You will be missed by many & forgotten by none, you’re flying high now mate.’
Evans’ friend Stephen Smith also paid tribute.
‘RIP Joely, you were one of the best humans on this planet. I’ve been honoured to be one of your mates,’ he posted.
‘Watching you grow up, slogging out motos [motocross races] with you at Kingaroy and around Queensland, both of us wanting to get to the top of our motocross game.
‘Saddened to see you go so soon, and condolences to the rest of your awesome family.’
A shocking accident at Murray Bridge, South Australia in 2015 almost left Evans paralysed.
He lost control of his bike while navigating a tricky section of the track and broke the C5 and C6 vertebrae in his neck.
‘I went to get up and nothing happened,’ he recalled in 2016.
‘I just remember the feeling of nothing, and how scared I was.’
Evans fought back and was riding again within 12 months of the accident, despite only having 20 per cent strength in his left arm as he returned to action.
