Mum’s pain after son Lockie Hernaman’s death on Harvey football oval

The arrival of Lockie Hernaman’s certificate for finishing his plumbing apprenticeship last week should have been a cause for celebration for his family.

But for his mother, the mail is another heartbreaking reminder her “rock” and “perfect son” would no longer get to reap the rewards.

Just 10 days after his final day as an apprentice, the 20-year-old collapsed and died while training with his football team Harvey Bulls.

His mother Mel has told how she received the phone call every parent fears on April 30 and rushed to the local oval to see him still on the ground.

“I remember exactly where he was on that oval and I didn’t think it was real,” she told 7NEWS.

“I just thought he’d collapsed and that he was going to get up and keep training.” The death left the tight-knit Harvey community reeling and why the fit young footballer died is still a mystery

“I just didn’t think this would happen. He was fit. He was healthy.

“He did nothing wrong to cause his body to shutdown,” Ms Hernaman said.

“I just want to know what happened to him.”

Ms Hernaman, who has battled breast cancer for two years said her son had offered unwavering support for her and his eight-year-old sister Kailee.

The single mother said she was struggling to cope without him and was cherishing the memories from a six-day family holiday to Melbourne before his death.

“(He was) just perfect — the perfect brother, the perfect son. The three of us as a family were inseparable. He never walked out that door without giving me a hug and telling me he loved me,” Ms Hernaman said.

“It just doesn’t feel real that he was prepared to be the one to be looking after Kailee when I went, and now I’m here without him, so I’ve got to be strong for Kailee.”

Police have confirmed the death is not being treated as suspicious. Lockie’s funeral will take place tomorrow.