Father pays tribute to loving son Cameron Johnson
TREVOR Johnson will never see his son Cameron's smiling face again but has inked a permanent reminder of his boy on his chest.
Cameron, 21, lived in Gatton and tragically drowned at a Sunshine Coast beach on Saturday while on a camping trip with friends.
The group of friends had travelled to the northern coast for a weekend of camping and four-wheel-driving.
Cameron and four friends were in an inflatable pool which overturned in rough surf.
Three people were able to get back into the pool but Cameron and Mick Connealy were dragged out to sea by a rip.
Their limp bodies washed ashore after they were hit by a freak wave.
Two off-duty nurses were able to revive Mick but Cameron could not be saved despite the desperate efforts of a mate who performed CPR for 30 minutes.
Mr Johnson said his son loved camping, pig hunting and hanging out with his friends.
"He was just one of those young fellows who everyone loved," he said.
"He'd give anything a go. He just loved life."
Cameron attended Lockyer District High School and worked at Stanbroke Beef in Grantham.
Mr Johnson said his son was a hard worker.
"He bought a block of land, built a house on it and only moved in one week before (he died)," he said.
"His goal was to have another house by the time he was 25."
Cameron is survived by his father Trevor, mother Sue, brothers Josh, 24, Brandon, 23, Xander, 4, and girlfriend April Rose.
Cameron was also passionate about tattoos. Sink the Ink Tattooz artist Ted Saddo offered his family free portrait tattoos in memory of Cameron.
Josh was first to get inked on Tuesday, while Brandon got tattooed on Wednesday and Mr Johnson yesterday. Each work of art took five hours to create.
Mr Johnson wasn't keen on tattoos beforehand but was won over when he saw Josh's tattoo.
"I saw how brilliant it was and thought it would be nice to have him there, close to my heart," he said. "It's another way to remember him."
Cameron's funeral will be held at the Peace Lutheran Church in Gatton at 10am tomorrow.
The family requests no black be worn. Donations can be made to Surf Life Saving in lieu of flowers.
