A teenage Socceroos fan has tragically died just hours after watching Australia in the World Cup.
Cesare Liberatore, 18, died after the car he was a passenger in collided with another vehicle on the opposite side of the road on Saturday morning.
Also in the car were his friends Julian, also 18, and Oscar Lococo, the pair have been hospitalised with serious injuries.
Oscar was yesterday said to be in a serious condition, with Julian in a stable condition.
The trio had been driving home from Federation Square after Australia suffered a 2-0 defeat against the USA.
Following the passing of Cesare and injuries to his two friends, their schools have been rallying around their senior students.
Cesare Liberatore has sadly died after being involved in a car crash shorly after leaving Federation Square where he and two other friends watched Australia’s loss to the USA
Oscar Lococo (left) and Julian were in the car with Cesare and have been hospitalised with serious injuries
Cesare’s family have received an outpouring of love and support from the school he attended and his close friends
The St Bernard’s College and Gladstone Park Secondary College communities have been said to have been rocked by the tragedy.
They held assemblies on Monday morning, and have been providing counselling for the students and staff affected by the accident.
Mary Liberatore, Cesare’s grandmother, told the Herald Sun, the grieving family had been inundated with support from the schools, their students, and friends of her grandson.
‘It’s been an absolute outpouring of grief,’ she said.
‘All day they’ve knocked on the door – boys sobbing with flowers in their hands.
‘I am absolutely gobsmacked. You can tell the measure of a person by the company that they keep. These kids – every one of them – are just beautiful.
‘You hear all these bad things about today’s generation. I feel the need to get in touch with the schools to thank them.’
Another friend of the boys involved in the crash also paid tribute to them, saying they were popular and well-loved.
She also added that heartbroken friends were supporting each other by sharing stories of Cesare, while praying for Oscar and Julian’s recoveries.
‘Everyone’s finding light in the dark of the situation. Everyone is so grateful for the community support,’ she said.
St Bernard’s principal Michael Davies paid tribute to Cesare who had attended the school before leaving in 2023.
‘Our heartfelt prayers are with his family and friends at this time of unimaginable loss,’ he said.
‘As a college community, we hold all three young men and their families in our thoughts and prayers.’
Along with that tribute, Year 12s at the school gathered in the College Chapel to pray for the three teenagers and their families.
Many students and staff also visited the Royal Melbourne Hospital over the weekend supporting the families of those involved.
A spokesman for the Department of Education offered condolences to Cesare’s family.
‘This is a distressing time for the school community, and we are providing full wellbeing support to students,’ he said.
‘Additional wellbeing support is also being provided for staff.’
There is also a GoFundMe page for Cesare which can be found here.
Police are investigating the cause of the accident with anyone who witnessed it urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au
