Father floored by son’s death
Heartbreak, confusion over 6-year-old’s fatal fall from boat moored in Havelock
The father of a little boy who died after falling from a boat in Marlborough says his “heart dropped” when he found out his child was missing in the water.
And he has revealed the youngster was not even supposed to be in the South Island when he died.
Nekko Paul Haworth, 6, was reported missing in Havelock, Marlborough, in the early hours of Tuesday. It is understood he fell from a boat moored at the port and was reported missing shortly before 6.30am that day.
Police recovered Nekko’s body seven hours later.
His death will be referred to the coroner and is under investigation by police.
It is thought Nekko fell overboard while on the boat with his mother Gemma Astwood’s partner.
Nekko’s father Tom Haworth shared his grief via a statement.
He said while he was separated from Nekko’s mother that changed nothing in terms of the involvement he had with his son and the love he and his family provided.
“My entire family — including extended family from the North Island — were all active in Nekko’s life, which helped me to provide Nekko with the best life a young boy could’ve had,” said Haworth.
He recalled the day his son was born on March 13, 2013.
“[It was] was the happiest day of my life. I was ecstatic to welcome my boy into the world as news spread to family and friends.
“I was showered with congratulatory messages and offers of support.
“I had never in my lifetime anticipated that six years later, that I would be faced with the darkest day when I received a call saying my son was missing.
“My heart dropped. Had all the skills I provided my boy with empowered him to survive and return to where he was staying?
“Hours later I received the news no parent should ever receive.”
Haworth said he cherished the five days he spent with Nekko in the days before his death.
“Nekko held a smile that radiated across his face to the point that it would be impossible not to return a smile.
“Just last week Nekko had
Nekko held a smile that radiated across his face to the point that it would be impossible not to return a smile. Nekko’s father, Tom Haworth
mastered a back somersault followed by a forward flip. He was go-getter full of ambition and he received a real, genuine upbringing by all my family, with his great grandparents and extended family jumping at any opportunity that he was allowed to go visit.”
He was still reeling from the news and trying to get answers about his son’s final moments.
“There are so many questions in our minds, some of which will be answered as time passes and some that may never be,” he said.
“Getting the call that he was missing was a shock as I wasn’t aware that he was not in the care of my expartner, not to mention on a boat.
“It all seemed like a nightmare as nothing stacked up.”
Haworth said Nekko was supposed to be at his great grandparents’ farm in the North Island when he died.
“The amount of questions and thoughts that go through my mind made me wonder how such tragedy could’ve been prevented.”
He said Nekko spent many occasions with his side of the family on the water and was “very confident”.
“I, along with all my family members will dearly miss Nekko, he was my rock and his attitude towards life meant that you couldn’t meet Nekko without being touched by his positive, driven attitude.”