AUSTRALIAN COMEDIAN TONY KNIGHT DIES IN TRAGIC ACCIDENT AT FESTIVAL

Tragic news has emerged that Tony Knight, the Australian comedian and renowned dog behaviourist, has passed away at 54.

The stand-up comic tragically lost his life in a freak accident while attending the Rock and Cars festival in Lavaur, southern France, on Saturday, June 7, as confirmed by a family member.

Knight was reportedly struck by a falling tree branch, which injured him and six others; he was the only one who did not survive the incident.

Described as being "fit, healthy, happy and had everything going for him" by Joanne Allen on a GoFundMe page, Tony was enjoying the festival immensely before the tragedy occurred.

"Tony had been in France only a few days before he lost his life attending a festival with his friend Pascall, and never made it home," Joanne penned on the fundraising site, reports the Express.

She remembered Tony as a "charismatic, funny, passionate and so very loved" individual whose life revolved around his love for dogs, helping people globally through various mediums including in-person classes, online courses, radio and TV appearances, ebooks, and more.

His innovative methods in dog training were highly regarded, earning him respect and admiration worldwide. In an effort to support his partner who is dealing with funeral arrangements, Joanne initiated a GoFundMe campaign earlier this week, which has already gathered $4695 in donations.

Tony's expertise as a "dog listener" was sought after by many, including celebrities like Molly Meldrum, Sonia Kruger, and even the Dubai Royal Family.

He had plans to settle down in France with his Australian partner of 15 years, Hayley Wright. Now, she faces the heartbreaking task of travelling to their intended shared home to arrange his funeral and a wake with his family in the UK.

Tony's sister Joanne spoke to Daily Mail Australia, saying: "He had just started to live the life he dreamed of, working with dogs while travelling the world and having a home in a quaint French town." She added, "If he had a thought, he never believed he couldn't do it and just went for it."

The mayor of Lavaur, Bernard Carayon, expressed his shock to reporters: "Never has such a dramatic event happened in our town. I have expressed our profound compassion to the family in this difficult time," he stated.

Fans have also been sharing their grief online, with one commenting: "Tony was a talented and loyal friend who loved life, and we loved him. We are sending all our love to dear Jan in England and Hayley in France."

Following the sad news, Tony's last Instagram post - shared hours before his death - has prompted several admirers to head to the comment section. "Just heard the awful news I’m devastated- I feel like I’ve lost a friend My heart goes out to Hayley Jan and his family friends and Lewis and Gypsy of course Such a loss - life is so fragile", one notably wrote.

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2024-07-04T08:03:27Z dg43tfdfdgfd