Why a ‘happy’ father jumped

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EVERYONE who knew him said what a happy bloke he was.

Privately, however, Jason Lees was a shattered man.

It is understood the former The Southport School teacher, who threw himself and his two-year-old son Brad off Brisbane’s Story Bridge on Monday, had recently split up with his wife Danielle Sutton, who was yesterday being comforted by family on the Gold Coast.Yesterday, floral tributes and a teddy bear were left in the park below the bridge where Mr Lees jumped to his death. Police are treating the incident as a murder-suicide.

Yesterday, Mr Lees’ former colleagues and students were having trouble comprehending how the one-time TSS house master could have sunk to such an emotional low.

“I had him in prep school, he was my house master and he was the happiest teacher going around,” said a former TSS student.

TSS headmaster Greg Wain said the school was saddened by the tragedy.

“Jason left us four years ago and he is remembered fondly as a well-respected teacher and wonderfully caring man,” Mr Wain said.

Mr Lees’ Ontario-based brother Bill said he last saw his nephew in July 2010 when his brother – who was also an international rugby referee – took a leave of absence and visited Canada to officiate at rugby games and spend time with his family.

“That was the last time I saw them,” he told the Ottawa Sun newspaper.

Bill said he thought his brother was living the dream in Australia.

“I’m shocked … Nobody in my family I know saw this coming.

“There is more to this story.”

Griffith University School of Applied Psychology head Professor Paul Martin said Mr Lees and his family were known to staff and former students through their alumni involvement and that everyone was saddened and shocked by the incident.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends as they endure unimaginable grief,” he said.

Anglican Church Grammar School headmaster Jonathan Hensman described the former teacher as “enthusiastic, passionate and an honour to the profession”.

Craig Cooper told reporters he saw the tragedy unfold as he was sitting on his balcony and suddenly heard a “blood-curdling scream”.

“I don’t think I could describe it, it was unbelievable. I caught a glimpse of a falling thing, it was tiny,” he said.

“A few seconds later, he (Mr Lees) jumped, it was unmistakable this time that it was a body.”

Mr Lees is understood to have taken his toddler from their Seven Hills home about 2.30am and driven to Kangaroo Point before hopping on a bicycle fitted with a babyseat to ride the remaining few hundred metres. The bodies were recovered about 8am.