A young, up and coming Australian Croatian MMA fighter from South Australia has tragically lost his life following a horror car crash in the Adelaide Hills on the weekend. The news report highlighted the Adelaide Croatian fighter as a rising star too soon lost.
Twenty one-year-old Luke Marko and his 22 year old best friend Sami Adnan died when their car left the road. It hit a tree near one of Adelaide’s biggest tourism draw cards, Hahndorf, 7News reported late on Sunday night (https://7news.com.au/news/sa/victims-of-adelaide-hills-crash-identified-as-rising-martial-arts-athletes-and-good-friends-c-18590608?fbclid=IwY2xjawKGaThleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFhS2ZWWHFabFlHcXBTRWdEAR6tuJvSNpgkgkEORQEcdol_udfIGaYptmvpsTnDQLMM-L_RzUIGZd2tpx5kRw_aem_A1b59Ma5EwqoGyieyKxzUA).
According to the 7News report, the pair were returning from a training session in the Adelaide Hills. The incident took place in the suburb of Paechtown.
“Sami was behind the wheel of the Holden Astra when he lost control and slammed into a gumtree, crushing the cabin. Neither of the two could be saved. He only got his licence three weeks ago,” stated the news report. This tragic event has been widely covered, highlighting how the Adelaide Croatian fighter killed in accident was a great loss to the community.
Croatian media reports on tragedy
Croatian media also reported the tragedy. Zagreb sports daily, Sportske Novosti, added that Marko was proud of his Croatian roots. (https://sportske.jutarnji.hr/sn/sport-mix/ostali-sportovi/tragedija-u-australiji-talentirani-hrvatski-borac-i-njegov-klupski-kolega-poginuli-u-stravicnoj-nesreci-15580868)
“Luke Marko has Croatian roots, while his parents are active members of the Croatian community in Australia,” the sports daily wrote. This quote was from another article in Croatian martial arts web portal, Fightsite.hr (https://fightsite.hr/fightsite/ostalo/tragedija-u-australiji-talentirani-hrvatski-grappler-poginuo-s-klupskim-kolegom-u-nezapamcenoj-nesreci-15580863?_gl=1*1xkmdw9*_ga*MjAwODkwNzYwNi4xNzMyNzA4NzY1*_ga_0PCQNHB2ZD*czE3NDY1MDM0MzEkbzM4JGcxJHQxNzQ2NTAzNjI3JGo2MCRsMCRoMA..).
“Additionally, Marko took every opportunity to proudly show off his Croatian heritage, carrying a Croatian flag at his bouts.
“According to comments on his social media platforms, he always displayed with great pride his connection to the Croatian people,” stated the news report by Sportske Novosti.
Connor Rogošić-Smith, an administrator of the Croatian Australians Facebook group, paid tribute to Marko, in an emotional post on Monday.
“Last night we lost a member of the Adelaide Croatian / Adelaide MMA community,” wrote Rogošić-Smith in his post. The news of the Adelaide Croatian fighter killed in accident has deeply affected those who knew him.
“Luke was a very talented martial artist, and was one of the nicest, helpful down to earth human beings I know. He will be sorely missed.
“Rest in eternal paradise brother. Thinking of his family in this tough time. Forever 21,” concluded the touching tribute by Rogošić-Smith.
