CRASH CLAIMS LOVED DAD
Torquay builder Stephen Hayden killed, Geelong businessman Mark Hayden injured as ski trip goes horribly wrong
A TORQUAY man killed in a car crash while holidaying in New Zealand is being remembered as a gutsy surfer who chased the best swell around the world.
Stephen Hayden, 46, of Hayden Constructions, died and his cousin, Geelong businessman Mark Hayden, is understood to have been injured when the Toyota Highlander they were travelling in crashed near Lake Tekapo on Monday night.
The crash also claimed the life of New Zealand man Nigel Stuart Freeman, 72.
It is understood the men were driving along the State Highway 8 on a skiing holiday when two cars crashed about 5.16pm.
The police serious crash unit is investigating.
Lifelong friend Ben Anderson said Stephen, a father of two girls under 10 and husband of Links Property director Lynne Hayden, was a generous man who would go to any lengths to chase the perfect swell.
“He used to ring me up and the next day we’d be in Bali or Tahiti or Fiji surfing,” Mr Anderson said.
“We talked just two days ago about buying a 50-foot yacht to go around Asia.
“The last time we surfed together it was zero degrees off Port Campbell pier with Ross Clarke-Jones, one of the best big wave surfers.
“So many of his mates will have had these experiences too, he was a really generous man.”
A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was giving support.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance, in line with the consular services charter, to the family of an Australian man who died in a motor vehicle accident in New Zealand,” the spokeswoman said.
Tributes also flowed online for the much-loved Torquay father, known in the surfing fraternity as “Dog”.
“Dog was fearless, I’ll never forget a champion (who) would help anyone,” Grant Angove posted.
“Dog was a legend and a charger, he will be missed. Thoughts and prayers to Lynne and the kids,” Ben Spargo wrote.
“The man had no fear. Such a loss . . . still can’t believe he’s not with us anymore the tears won’t stop,” Peter Wadling said.