Tributes to ‘best dad’, 57, killed in crash outside shopping centre day after arriving in Australia to visit family

EMOTIONAL tributes have been paid to a much-loved grandparent who was mowed down outside a shopping centre in Australia. John Cunningham, 57, was on holiday with his wife Annmarie when he was struck by a vehicle outside Harbour Town shopping centre in Biggera Waters, Queensland on Wednesday. FacebookJohn and his wife were holidaying in Australia when the tragic incident occurred[/caption] According to local police, he was hit while walking across a road outside the mall at about 5.15pm local time. But despite the desperate actions of the teenage driver who tried to save him, he was tragically pronounced dead at the scene. John and his wife, believed to be from the north of England, had only arrived in Australia a day before the tragic incident unfolded. They were reportedly visiting their daughter Leah and children who were staying at a nearby caravan park. Read more on world news BLADE PANIC I found a RAZOR blade in my toddler's play dough - what if I hadn’t caught it? HARROWING SIGHT Shock moment dog walks down street with something horrifying in its mouth Today the victim’s heartbroken wife paid tribute to her husband on Facebook saying that she had “lost her best friend.” While daughter Leah described him as “the best dad.” She penned: “My heart is completely ripped out; he was the best father I could ever wish for and my friend. “He was the best grandfather to all his grandchildren and a fantastic husband to my mother. Most read in News WON’T WASH I was reported for slavery by the refugee I homed after I asked her to WASH UP 'I'M GONNA DIE' 999 call reveals moments before two killed in TikToker’s ‘murder plot' MONSTER'S LAUGH Putin makes sick nuke apocalypse threat… and cackles like movie villain TIKTOK ‘TRAP’ TikToker told mum’s ex ‘this year you’ll be gone’ before 'killing him & pal' WALK FREE Dad who caught pal raping daughter and made him kill himself FREED after 6 months 'LEAKY SU' Suella Braverman leaked secret plan to cut Britain's deficit with 'Growth Visa' “We all love you so much that I can’t even put into words; I know that you know we love you.” A friend added: “He was the best father and an even better granddad.” According to the Courier Mail, the young driver involved in collision was treated for shock at the scene and was taken to hospital in a stable condition. Cops are now said to be appealing for witnesses, including those with footage of the incident. A spokesman for Queensland Police said: “Preliminary information indicates the 57-year-old man was crossing Oxley Drive when he was struck by a white 2012 Holden Colorado dual cab utility travelling south. Read More on The Sun I-RARE Apple releases special iPhone that only certain people are allowed to own DI-WOW I'm a mum-of-4 & I gave my council home a glow-up on a budget “The driver, a 19-year-old Biggera Waters man stopped and rendered immediate assistance to the man ahead of the emergency response, however the pedestrian died at the scene. “The Forensic Crash Unit will investigate and are appealing for witnesses, especially those with dashcam vision or CCTV of the crash, or the moments leading up to it to come forward.” Wikimedia CommonsJohn was reportedly struck outside Harbour Town shopping centre in Biggera Waters, Queensland[/caption] FacebookHeartbroken wife Annemarie (left) said she had ‘lost her best friend’[/caption]