Berkeley tragedy: Grieving father says investigation must leave no stone unturned

Niccolai Schuster’s father John has appealed for investigators to “leave no stone unturned” in their quest to prove the cause of the Berkeley balcony collapse.

In a powerful eulogy and plea, the 21-year-old’s grieving parents, along with beloved brother Alexei, told mourners how the death of their “magical son” had left them “in a black hole of unimaginable devastation”.

Dry rot has been confirmed in the beams which held up the balcony and the district attorney’s office in California is examining the information.

Mr Schuster said the six deaths in the tragedy would increase anxiety for parents of children heading off overseas but urged them not to stand in the way but to give them freedom and life experience.

“Nicc was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he said.

“To the investigators I say, we have lost our magical son and best friend, we are devastated and rocked to our very core. Leave no stone unturned in this investigation. This can not happen again.”

Mr Schuster’s words were emotional but warm and humorous. He recalled a son who had a smile like a thousand rays of sunshine, a face which made the world seem better, and an infectious personality.

“If only I could have bottled his smile. When I think of Nicc, the word purity comes to mind. He was the purest of souls. And he always kept that child-like innocence. I was privileged to have Nicc as my son,” he said.

Mourners also heard of the close bond between the two Schuster boys.

Alexei broke down as his father recalled breaking the news of his death at the kitchen table and how he ran to the back garden and threw his hands high in the air and screamed with all his might, “I love you Nicc”.

“Alexei and Nicc were so close they were inseparable,” he said.

“They went to matches together, played PlayStation, soccer, rugby, and just loved being together. There was an unshakeable bond. They just loved being together, there was always great banter and wit. Alexei was his best friend and they loved each other. Alexei has lost a brother, but they had experienced so much together.”

Mr Schuster spoke of a sports-mad young man who would party with the best.

He was a grandnephew of playwright John B Keane and loved nothing more than to have a few pints in John B Keane’s Bar in Listowel and to listen to the farmers’ stories. “There was no halfway house with him, when he went out he went out for a night,” Mr Schuster said.

In a heartwarming sign-off, the grieving father said the door of his home was open.

He said all Nicc’s friends have been asking if there is anything they can do for them, so he urged them not to speed when driving, and asked them to call unannounced to their house on a regular basis in the future.

“You have given us so much strength in this black hole of unimaginable devastation,” he said.