The Nashdale 19-year-old and close friend Eliza Wannan died in Orange Base Hospital on Wednesday after they were accidentally run over while sleeping on a rural property near Orange.

“The deaths of Will and Eliza broke a thousand hearts on Wednesday, four of them being their parents,” Will’s mother Lee Dalton said yesterday.

“This is every parent’s worst nightmare, for us it has become reality.”

Will celebrated his 19th birthday two days before his death.

He had recently returned to Orange after travelling through remote parts of Africa and a week ago was accepted into a Bachelor of Science degree at Newcastle University.

Will and his close friends had made a deliberate decision to study together at the university.

“They were all so excited,” Ms Dalton said.

“Will was on the cusp of life.

“He was and will remain 19 and two days old.”

Will spent the last year chopping firewood and breeding cattle to save enough money to journey through Africa.

Ms Dalton said travelling was his burning ambition during his final year at Kinross Wolaroi.

The Dalton and Wannan families have been inundated with offers of support and assistance since a 17-year-old male accidentally reversed his ute over Will and Eliza’s swags on Tuesday morning.

Will’s sister Sophie turns 21 on Monday but without her brother to help her celebrate, the day will be marked by grief and sadness.

“I’d just like to say the support we’ve received not only from Will’s friends but also their families is unexpected, overwhelming and much appreciated,” Ms Dalton said.

“And I can’t describe how wonderful all the medical staff at Orange Base Hospital and Orange Police have been.”

Funeral arrangements for Will Dalton-Brown are yet to be announced.

The Wannan family yesterday announced a celebration of Eliza’s “sparkling life” would be held tomorrow at 11am in the Derek Pigot Auditorium at Kinross Wolaroi School.

They have asked people to come dressed in colourful party clothes “in the spirit of Eliza’s expressed wishes”.

bevan.shields@ruralpre ss.com