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A six-year-old boy from Perth and his four-year-old cousin have been identified as the ‘two bright sparks’ killed in a horror UTV accident on their grandmother’s farm.
The little boys were killed after they fell off a UTV (utility-terrain vehicle) and drowned in the swollen Waikāinga Stream at a property in Peria, east of Kaitāia on New Zealand’s North Island, at about 5.15pm on December 19.
Emergency services, including two helicopters, rushed to the property which is understood to be owned by the boys’ grandmother.
Their bodies were recovered from the stream the following day.
The driver of the UTV and three others were able to make it out of the water and were rushed to hospital with minor and moderate injuries.
A devastated family member said the UTV had crashed into a boulder before careering into an 11-metre deep waterhole at Waikāinga Stream.
They claimed no safety barriers were in place.
The little boys were killed after they came off a UTV (utility-terrain vehicle) and drowned in the swollen Waikāinga Stream (pictured) at a property in Peria, east of Kaitāia on New Zealand ‘s North Island, at about 5.15pm on December 19
‘On Friday 29th December 2023 at approximately 5.15pm, two little bright sparks went out from our lives,’ a family member posted on Facebook.
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‘Cousins … aged 6, from Perth and … aged 4, of Taupaki, Auckland, were taken in a tragic UTV accident while on holiday in the far North of NZ, Peria, when the UTV they were travelling in crashed into a boulder, careering the vehicle into an 11-metre deep water hole at Waikainga Stream where no safety barriers were in place.’
The family member said their hearts were ‘broken and unmendable’ following the tragedy and described the boys as ‘cheeky, cheerful and full of adventure’.
‘Fly free with the grasshoppers and butterflies our little mate. We’ll always love you forever, even if you can’t see us and even on our darkest days… We will love you forever and ever and always,’ she wrote.
She thanked emergency services, NZ Police and its family liaison officers.
‘Without your support and guidance yesterday, we’re not sure how we’d have coped.
‘To the skilled Dive team, we can’t express enough thanks and love as thanks to your expertise, you managed to bring our boys back to the Whenua under such extreme circumstances and conditions.’
Far North Mayor Moko Tepania sent his love and prayers to the families involved.
‘We are hugely appreciative of responders and the incredible work they do,’ he said.
‘With thousands of manuhiri [guests and visitors] joining Far Northerners over the break I ask whānau to take extra care when enjoying our district.’
People have been barred from swimming or fishing at the spot until January 7.
Police are making enquiries on behalf of the coroner.
