Tributes to man killed by golf ball
"Our worlds are totally shattered. He was the boy with the biggest heart that lit every room with his contagious smile and warmed their hearts.
Tributes are flooding in for a man who died last week after a freak golfing accident.
Jaden Goldfinch-Booker, 27, was playing a round of golf with friends when he was struck in the temple by a golf ball at the Frankton Golf Course in Queenstown on February 17.
The former Taranaki man, who lived in the resort town, was in Dunedin Hospital’s intensive care unit on life support for several days before he died.
Cousin Callum Macbeth, who used to play under-20s rugby with Goldfinch-Booker at Spotswood United, said in a written response to questions his cousin was the kind of guy who always had time for family and friends.
‘‘With his cheeky smile and twisted since of humour he could turn anyone’s day into a great one,’’ he said.
‘‘He was a great rugby player and a good friend to all. We are all going to miss him dearly.’’
Hundreds of messages of support and condolences have come in for the family, who were in Dunedin at his bedside while he was in hospital.
Stephen and Lynne Ryan said on Facebook that their family had known Goldfinch-Booker’s family for years.
‘‘It’s an immense tragedy that a vibrant young man has lost his life. No one should have to lose someone at only 27!’’
Judy Reed posted a message that said it was so hard to lose a child so suddenly.
‘‘I lost mine at thirty. The world has lost a wonderful person but heaven has gained a great soul.’’
‘‘It’s tragic for family and whoever hit the ball. I feel so much for them,’’ Lorraine Bayliss wrote.
In his February 24 death notice, Goldfinch-Booker’s family wrote that their boy had died at peace with his world.
‘‘Our worlds are totally shattered.
‘‘He was the boy with the biggest heart that lit every room with his contagious smile and warmed their hearts.
‘‘The angels just got too jealous of how much fun he created in this world.’’
Jaden’s funeral will take place in New Plymouth today.