An Australian nurse has tragically been killed while on a dream holiday in Italy.
The heartbroken family and friends of Chani Knopf, from Terrigal, New South Wales, have remembered her as a ray of “human sunshine” and someone who was always “kind, compassionate, funny and full of life”.
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The 32-year-old, who was a beloved registered nurse at Gosford Hospital’s Emergency Department, passed away on September 3.
Ms Knopf had been in Montagnana, located in North-Eastern Italy, when she was hit by a car at a pedestrian crossing and suffered catastrophic injuries.
She was placed in a coma and airlifted to the nearby Padua University Hospital but sadly, never regained consciousness. Her parents, Susan and Ger, flew from Australia to be by her side in her final moments.
Ms Knopf’s family have asked for the focus not be on blaming the driver, who stopped at the scene and provided assistance immediately after the accident.
‘Loved by so many’
Her best friend Melissa Wellman, 32, told news.com.au that Ms Knopf was the kind of person that “made people around her feel happier just by being there”.
The pair had met back in their year 10 maths class when they went to high school together in Nowra.
“I feel like my other half is missing,” Ms Wellman, a registered nurse living in Perth, Western Australia, told news.com.au.
“Chani was my best friend, but she was also like a sister to me, another daughter to my parents and an aunty to my nieces.
“I’m still finding it hard to believe that she’s not here. So many of her friends and family have been rocked by this because she was loved by so many people and her light reached so far.”
Ms Knopf had been travelling in Italy with four of her close friends, with the group all attending a wedding.
The had decided to extend their stay and travelled up to the picturesque town of Montagnana, which is about a 50 minute drive from Verona.
Her friends, who were all doctors, had only been 30 seconds down the road when the unthinkable accident occurred and offered their help right away.
“They stayed by Chani’s bedside every day while waiting for her parents to arrive in Italy,” Ms Wellman said.
“They played her favourite music, surrounded her with love and spoke messages from the people who loved her to her right up until her final moments.
“They are incredible people and were incredible friends to Chani. I will always be so grateful that she had them there with her.”
Ms Knopf’s friends have set up a GoFundMe to help her family with the astronomical expenses that have arisen since her sudden death.
“The funds will go towards Chani’s celebration of life and helping to ease the financial burden on her parents so they can take the time they need to grieve,” Ms Wellman explained.
“This was completely unexpected, and her parents had to travel to Italy at very short notice to be with Chani and say their goodbyes.
“I hope the funds can help cover some of those unexpected costs, as well as the costs associated with her celebration of life, and most importantly, allow them the space and time to grieve without the added pressure of worrying about finances.”
Saving seven lives
Ms Knopf’s family have revealed that she was able to donate her organs after her death, giving seven young people in Italy another chance at life.
“It feels incredibly fitting for Chani, who loved life so deeply and dedicated her career to caring for others,” Ms Wellman said.
“Her family have said that knowing her legacy continues in this way has brought them some comfort, and they know she would have been so happy to help others even after her passing.
“She was amazing at what she did in her nursing career. She dedicated so much of her life to helping other people, both at work and outside of it.
“It is difficult to find anyone who knew Chani who doesn’t have something beautiful to say about her.
“Her kindness, generosity and love for life touched so many people, and I think that will always be a huge part of her legacy.”
Bringing her home
The unthinkable loss has been extremely difficult for Ms Wellman, with the nurse talking about how the best friends planned to be each other’s maids of honour and raise their future kids together.
“I will miss her humour, her go-getter energy, her compassion, and all the future moments we thought we would have together,” she said.
“We always spoke about out future. It is so heartbreaking knowing we won’t get to have those.
“As much as I miss her, I’m also so grateful for the 16 years of friendship we did have. I’ll carry her with me always.”
Ms Knopf’s parents, Ger and Susan, are still in Italy and hope to bring their daughter home as soon as they are able.
By telling her story, her family and friends hope they can shine a light on what a wonderful person she was and how much she will be missed.
“I hope people remember Chani for her kindness, her light and the way she lived her life,” Ms Wellman said.
“She took chances, loved deeply and made the most of the time she had. I think one of the best ways we can honour her is to do the same — spread love and live life to the fullest.
“Chani loved sunrises and sunsets, the beach and the ocean.
“I hope that when the people who loved her see a beautiful sunrise or sunset, or find themselves by the ocean, they hold her in their hearts and think of her.”