Family accepts stockman’s loss
The family of Lochie Bellerby have accepted that he won’t be coming home, more than four months after he and 39 crewmates went missing at sea off Japan.
The Bellerby family will hold a memorial gathering for their loved one on February 27.
Lochie had been on his first trip as a stockman on the Gulf Livestock 1 ship when it capsized and sank during a typhoon on September 2.
The adventurous 28-year-old Southlander had taken the job to save money ahead of what was to be the next chapter in his life, managing and buying into the family farm near Te Anau.
It wasn’t to be, however, with the ship sinking after earlier breaking down twice during the ill-fated journey, which began in Napier and was headed for China, Bellerby’s grieving family said. Bellerby and fellow New Zealander Scott Harris were among the
43 crew on board, along with thousands of cows, when the tragedy unfolded.
Three Filipinos were plucked from the ocean, with two surviving, but the two Kiwis and two Australians are among those still unaccounted for.
Bellerby’s family said the memorial gathering would also remember the other 39 missing crew. A plaque paying tribute to Bellerby would be put on a rock on the family farm, and a video would be played honouring all 40 men.
Bellerby’s father, Guy Bellerby, said he missed his son big time. Lochie was a great communicator who was good at reading people and didn’t suffer fools, he said.
Lochie was in text communication with his mother, Lucy, about five hours before the ship sank, saying it was in large waves and the crew had been instructed to remain in their cabins, but he did not display any concern to her. ‘‘He wouldn’t – it wasn’t in his nature to do that,’’ Lucy said.
With the Japan Coast Guard failing to find any sign of those on board the Gulf Livestock 1, the Bellerby family worked with the families of the missing Australian crew, co-ordinating private searches off the Japanese coast.