The two boys, aged 10 and 12, were playing and fishing with a group at Boyce Park when a section of the riverbank gave way, trapping them beneath the soil. The police officers who arrived first actually swam across the river and tried to dig the boys out with their bare hands before emergency crews arrived with ropes and equipment. Tragically, they could not be saved.
The close-knit community of Kawerau is in mourning today following a “devastating and tragic” accident that claimed the lives of two young boys on the banks of the Tarawera River.
The victims, aged just 10 and 12, were part of a group playing and fishing near Boyce Park on Thursday morning when the unthinkable happened: the riverbank beneath them gave way, triggering a sudden collapse that trapped the pair under a heavy mass of earth and debris.
Emergency services were called to the scene around 11:30 am, but the first responders didn’t wait for heavy machinery. In a heroic but heartbreaking effort, two police officers swam across the river and began digging with their bare hands in a frantic race against time.
They were soon joined by volunteer fire crews who roped down the cliff face to assist, but despite their best efforts in “perilous circumstances,” both boys were located deceased.
Kawerau Mayor Faylene Tunui described the event as “every parent’s worst nightmare,” as local rugby clubs and schools began sharing tributes to the two young lives cut short.
“As a community, we acknowledge the devastating loss of these two young people and extend our deepest sympathies to both families,” Tunui said.
In accordance with local customs, Kawerau kaumātua (elders) have performed a karakia (prayer) at the site and placed a rāhui (temporary protection/restriction) on the Tarawera River, asking the public to stay away from the area out of respect for the grieving whānau (families) and the spirits of the boys.
The deaths have been referred to the coroner, and authorities are expected to investigate the stability of the riverbanks in the area, which is a popular spot for local children during school holidays.
