A 19-YEAR-OLD man was killed in a car accident last week on Wednesday in New Zealand.
The accident happened when the car he was driving veered off the road and crashed into a paddock near the intersection of Tate Rd and Brown Rd, Brixton, near New Plymouth, about 10.30pm.
Stuff News reported that Waisea Nala Naumotu Jr had promised to treat his mother to a very special Valentine’s Day, but they never got to enjoy the occasion.
Mr Naumotu Jr moved to New Zealand in 2015 and attended New Plymouth Boys High School before joining the Clifton Rugby and Sports Club.
He was described as a talented sportsman who was a humble and respectful young man off the field. O’Neill-Naumotu, his mother, said her son was a caring, loving boy who would always put her first.
“He loved to make me happy, he hated it when I was down or angry or cried,” she said.
Mr Naumotu Jr’s sister, Akisi, said she would remember her brother’s sense of humour.
“He was always the joker of the group, the cheeky one,” she said.
“He was a very gentle, sensitive and an emotional person.
“He was always talking to people.”
The 21-year-old student, who lives in Tauranga, said she felt distraught when she got the phone call about her brother’s death.
She said Mr Naumotu Jr wanted to join the army and had recently been accepted after completing a six-week course in Christchurch.
A memorial service was held on Monday at the Abraham’s Funeral Home in New Plymouth.
He was buried at the Waitara Cemetery.
“We were still trying to be happy and celebrate the life that he had, the 19 years he had with us. He was gone too soon, too fast.”
Mr Naumotu Jr was a member of Clifton’s 2017 winning colts team, coached by Kodee Rona.
