House robbed while at his wife’s funeral
PAUL SEABRIGHT feels like he is sitting on a fence watching traumatic events happen to someone else.
But the Hawke’s Bay man is having to face reality after his house was burgled while he was at his wife’s funeral.
‘‘It still seems completely surreal,’’ he said.
Paul and Christine Seabright shared a happy 11 years together. They emigrated from their home in Britain and made New Zealand their home four years ago.
In April, Christine noticed she was unusually out of breath after walking up Te Mata Peak. Soon after she was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
Seabright gave up his engineering job to care for his wife.
The registered nurse, who worked at Cranford Hospice, ended up relying on the hospice’s services as the year progressed. She passed away on December 13, aged 59.
Three days later, family and friends gathered to celebrate her life. While at the service Seabright was told his home alarm had been activated.
When he got home he realised someone had broken in and emptied out his sleepout. They had taken Christmas presents, phones, cameras, cash and beer.
Christine’s son also had his passport stolen. He had come over from the United Kingdom to spend time with his mother in her final days. It was his first visit to New Zealand.
Seabright estimated $5000 worth of goods had been taken. He wasn’t too worried about his possessions, but the sentimental value of what was taken. ‘‘It made me cry, it really did.’’ There was also the added hassle of having to travel to Wellington to get emergency travel documents before his stepson could return
home. All in the days leading up to Christmas. Police were still investigating. They told Seabright it appeared to be a random burglary.
However, he can’t help thinking that somehow they knew the family were at a funeral.
If he could turn back time he would have got someone to house-sit.
He believes the burglars would have ‘‘cleared the house’’ if the alarm had not activated.
Christine’s death had also been tough for the staff at Cranford Hospice.
‘‘It’s always hard when one of your own is needing your services,’’ general manager Helen Blaxland said.
‘‘One minute she was a colleague, the next a patient.’’
Blaxland said it was a reminder to families to make the most of every day because you never knew when life would be cut short.
Seabright was resolute that he would pick himself up.
‘‘I’m not going to let it get to me.’’
Family and friends had shown him ‘‘amazing support’’, he said.
‘‘It’s almost like sitting on a fence watching, like it’s not happening to you.’’
‘It’s always hard when one of your own is needing your services . . . One minute she was a colleague, the next a patient.’ Cranford Hospice general manager Helen Blaxland