Tribute to son

By Kelly Yates
FAMILY and friends are remembering the life of a boy who died last week in his favourite place in the world, Akoonah Park.
Andrew Sutton Mulligan, known by many as ‘Mully’, died after suffering a heart attack while running through the Berwick park on Monday 2 March.
His father, Dr Craig Mulligan, a GP in Narre Warren and his wife Rowena, told the News they were taking comfort in the fact that their 17-year-old son died in a beautiful place.
“He played there as a child and died there as a young man,” Dr Mulligan said.
Andrew was found by joggers near Cardinia Creek.
“It was unexpected but he died while he was in a good place. He loved the world,” Dr Mulligan said.
He described his son as a compassionate and thoughtful person who always thought of others.
“He was a quiet high achiever who was very intelligent,” he said.
A prankster at heart, Andrew, who was the vice captain at Haileybury College in Keysborough, was known as a practical joker to his friends and family.
He took an interest in sport, being a keen Demons fan, and enjoyed jet skiing, golf and tennis.
Andrew expressed himself through his music and was a member of the school’s wind symphony, flute choir and flute quartet. The Haileybury community dubbed Andrew as a “Haileybury Hero” because he was one of the school’s finest students.
Dr Mulligan said Andrew was considering medical science after completing VCE.
“It was an area where he thought he could make a difference. He was that sort of person,” he said.
The Mulligan family said they feel blessed to have had Andrew as a son.
“He was plucked from us during the peak of his life,” Dr Mulligan said.
“He was the perfect son, the perfect leader and perfect brother to Ben.”
Dr Mulligan said his family felt sad and empty as they dealt with the loss.
“We’re using this as reflective time as we’re surrounded by friends and family,” he said.
Andrew Sutton Mulligan’s funeral service was held at Haileybury College in Keysborough on Tuesday.