Michael Keats’ partner speaks out after first Australian death in Nepal

The partner of the first Australian confirmed dead after the Nepal floods has spoken of her “shock and grief” at losing “someone we love deeply”.

Emily Boyd has paid tribute to her partner Michael Keats who had been travelling with several other Australian members of the Isha Foundation in a tour run by the Trekkers’ Society when the floods struck on August 26.

“We are trying to navigate the shock and grief of losing someone we love deeply, while also suddenly having to face life without the person who was such an important part of our family and our household,” Ms Boyd from Mollymook on the NSW south coast said.

“He was also my young son’s stepfather, the only father he has ever known. His loss has changed everything for both of us.

“Since losing my partner, I have also had to take significant time away from work to grieve and care for my son,” she wrote in a GoFundMe appeal which as of Tuesday morning had raised almost $25,000.

“The kitchen needs cleaning, the laundry washed, the bins put out, and the constant demand of a five-year-old.”

Ms Boyd said the appeal was also to raise funds for a trip to India, where Isha Foundation leader Sadhguru has invited families of Nepal tragedy victims to partake in spiritual healing.

Several other Australian members of the Isha Foundation remain unaccounted for as emergency workers continue to pull bodies and survivors out of destroyed buildings and floodwaters throughout the affected area.

On Tuesday morning Foreign Minister Penny Wong said her thoughts were with Mr Keats’ family “and the families of all Australians who remain unaccounted for” but revealed the Australian government hadn’t received official confirmation of his death.

“He does remain unaccounted for in terms of information we have, but as I said – I respect the rights of families to make the statements they have,” she said.

“Our thoughts go out to his family and to every Australian family who is hoping that the many who are missing can be located.”

Originally published as Michael Keats’ partner speaks out after first Australian death in Nepal