Yahoo Lifestyle Emotional tribute to slain brothers in Mexico
Perth brothers Jake, 30, and Callum Robinson, 33, were on a trip of a lifetime with their friend Jack Carter Rhoad, 33, when they vanished near Ensenada in the Baja California region.
Friends, family and loved ones of the two Australian brothers and their companion killed on a trip to Mexico have paid tribute to the trio in a touching final send-off, with dozens gathering in the surf to honour their lives in an emotional paddle-out.
Perth brothers Jake, 30, and Callum Robinson, 33, were on a trip of a lifetime around the United States and Mexico with their friend Jack Carter Rhoad, 33, when they vanished near Ensenada in the Baja California region on April 27.
A massive search effort found the bodies of all three men at the bottom of a four-metre cliffside well a short distance from their campsite in early May.
Brothers remembered in emotional surfer's send-off
Parents Debra and Martin Robinson flew over to Mexico to identify their bodies and, over the weekend made the journey north to San Diego, USA where Callum had been living.
The 33-year-old’s friends organised a paddle-out into the surf at one of his favourite beach spots in San Diego on Sunday, with dozens of locals gathering in the surf to honour their lives. The boys' father was among those who paddled out to pay tribute to his two sons.
Friends remember 'amazing' men
One of the surfers said he felt like Callum’s spirit was there with them in the water during the tribute.
"In the middle of our ceremony a large wave rolled in and it felt like Callum was there with us and everyone said that’s Callum," he told Nine.
Another who paid tribute to the Callum said he was "glad he got the chance to go out surfing — doing what he loves". "I feel like they aren't words, he was just amazing," friend Ali Shaeffer told 7 News. "It's just obviously really heartbreaking."
"Just three amazing lives taken...in such a pointless way," another friend said.
Two men and a woman have been detained on suspicion of direct or indirect involvement in the attack. One man with a previous criminal record has been charged with "forced disappearance".
On Friday, the men’s bodies were moved to a funeral home in San Diego, and are expected to be transferred back to Perth. Jesus Gerardo Garica Cota, also known as "El Kekas", along with his brother Cristian Alejandro and girlfriend Ari Gisel have since been arrested by Mexican authorities.
Gerardo fronted an Ensenada court, where prosecutors revealed Ms Gisel had become a key witness in the case. Last week, the infamous Sinaloa Cartel claimed it "handed" over the alleged killers to police.
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