Popular man remembered by friends after fatal pub stabbing in Robina

The 26-year-old who was fatally stabbed in the outdoor smoking section of RQ's Tavern at Robina on the Gold Coast has been remembered as fun-loving and good natured. 

Dylan McPadden was tabbed around 10.15pm Thursday night after a man and woman walked in and words were exchanged.

The man allegedly pulled a knife and stabbed McPadden once in the chest before fleeing the scene with the woman. 

McPadden died at the Gold Coast University hospital a short time later.

Following a raid on his Mermaid Beach apartment, a 26-year-old man was later arrested and charged with one count of murder. 

Several knives were seized as police searched the unit.

On Saturday afternoon friends gathered at the RQ Tavern to remember the ‘happy go lucky’ McPadden.

“Rest in Paradise Dylan McPadden. Thank you for all the fun memories during our high school years,” friend Rachel Wright wrote in social media.

“You always have and always will be such a light in everyone's life. Your presence here will be missed but certainly not forgotten. Fly high Dyl,' Wright added.

Lisan Ferguson wrote: “Another legend lost too soon. you'll be missed.”

According to friends McPadden was “not a man to get into altercations like this”.

“He's a happy dude that keeps himself out of situations like this.”

Detective Sergeant Mark Proctor from Queensland Police lamented the use of the deadly weapon.

“That's what knife crime does, it turns minor incidents into major incidents and it wrecks lives.

“The fight started in that area pretty much straight away

“As a result of that argument, (the suspect allegedly) produced a knife and stabbed the person once in the chest,' Proctor said.

“The whole incident occurred within minutes, approximately 90 seconds.

“It's just such a waste. I understand the young man was a regular at that tavern, so (staff) would have known him.”

Forensic teams have been assessing he crime scene and the knives seized.

“We'll have to determine through scientific means which knife was used if in fact it was any of those seized or one we're still looking for.”

Any witnesses should come forward to police.

Jonathan Jackson, 21^st August 2023