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International rugby referee who taught at an exclusive school throws his baby son off a bridge before jumping to his own death

By staff 20/02/2012 06:21:00

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Jason Lees threw his two-year-old son from Brisbane's 243ft-high Story Bridge then jumped himself
40-year-old was an International Seven's Rugby Union referee

By Anthony Bond

Last updated at 12:21 PM on 20th February 2012

An international rugby referee who taught at an exclusive school threw his baby son from a bridge today before jumping to his own death, it has emerged.

Jason Lees, 40, threw his two-year-old son from Brisbane's 243ft-high Story Bridge, then jumped to his own death, landing in parkland on the banks of the Brisbane River.

Mr Lees taught at the Anglican Church Grammar School in the city and was also an International Seven's Rugby Union referee.

Horrific: Jason Lees, left, threw his two-year son, right, off the Story Bridge in Brisbane in the early hours of this morning before jumping to his own death

Jonathan Hensman, head of the Anglican Church Grammar School, said Mr Lees was a 'highly regarded and much loved teacher'.

'The impact this sudden news has had on our community is significant and as we work through our grief we are concerned for our boys whom he taught in the classroom or coached on the sports field,' he told the Port Stephens Examiner.

Queensland police said Mr Lees rode a bicycle onto the footpath on one side of the bridge in the early hours of this morning before throwing his baby over a safety rail.

Scene of tragedy: Brisbane's Story Bridge where Jason Lees threw himself and his son from

Tragedy: Brisbane's Story Bridge from which Jason Lees threw his child before jumping himself

Then he climbed over the rail and jumped.

The tragedy is similar to an incident in 2009 when 37-year-old Arthur Freeman tossed his four-year-old daughter Darcey from Melbourne's Westgate Bridge - although he did not jump but gave himself up and was subsequently jailed for life.

A witness who saw the incident, at around 3.30am, called police who rushed to the scene but there was nothing they could do for Mr Lees or the child.

It is believed that Mr Lees is originally from Canada.

Police said they did not believe the child was the subject of a custody battle, unlike the child in the Melbourne tragedy.