Town mourns ‘amazing souls’ after plane crash
Ruakaka friends in shock after popular, sociable couple killed in the Philippines
Erma Carr had a generous heart. She welcomed people into her home, helped at her children’s school and enjoyed socialising with friends and loved ones.
On Sunday, her life was cut short tragically when the medical evacuation plane she and her husband Laurence were on crashed into a resort area in the Philippines.
Laurence, who was in his 70s, had become unwell and was being taken to a hospital in Manila. All nine people on board died. The couple had been in the Philippines since March with their two youngest children, Nina and Nino, both students at Ruakaka Primary School.
They were due to come home later this month — after celebrating their birthdays next week.
Images from social media show endless photographs of their trip — celebrating birthdays and a graduation, visiting sick loved ones in a hospital and enjoying time at the beach, shopping malls, temples and family gatherings.
Friend Fortunato Boquia, who lives in Whanga¯rei but is in the
Philippines, said the children, adopted from Erma’s sister two years ago, were waiting at the hospital for the couple when the crash happened.
They were told straight away of their parents’ deaths and are being cared for by family while funeral arrangements are being discussed.
“It’s really shocking,” he said. “They are great people, they used to come to our Whanga¯rei Filipino Society gatherings.
“They are so supportive of the Filipino community.”
The Carrs’ eldest son, Vincent, who turns 20 today, was in New Zealand and is now with an aunt in Northland. Laurence also had three adult children from an earlier relationship.
The couple lived at a rural property in One Tree Pt, Ruakaka. He had been there all his life and Erma joined him after they married in the Philippines 23 years ago.
Family friend Ross Johnson said the popular couple would be missed.
He said Erma, who was in her 50s, was very hospitable and well known for celebrating family birthdays in style and invited lots of locals and friends to parties at the couple’s home.
“Erma also got involved with Ruakaka School, helping out with projects. She really got involved in the community that way.
“She has such a generous heart . . . she was so hospitable and she loved children.”
Grace Johnson said Erma made the most of living by the sea, catching crabs and fishing.
“This will be a real shock for the community. She was very popular and very social.”
Canadian friend Braeden Murphy described the couple as “amazing souls”.
“I am not from New Zealand but I had the pleasure of meeting them during my short stay there. I became close with them as we would often share dinners.”
Murphy said it was difficult to talk about the couple’s deaths but he wanted people to know how special they were.
“New Zealand is an absolutely beautiful country but it was knowing people like the Carr family that made it truly special.”
Eric Apolonio, a spokesman of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, said the light plane disappeared from radar as it flew over Laguna, about 60km south of the capital.
The nine people on board the plane included two pilots, two nurses, a doctor and two other people, police said. Two people on the ground were injured.