Triple farm tragedy shocks townships
Close-knit Ruapehu communities grieving for popular gran and ‘precious’ grandsons
The unimaginable loss suffered by an Ohakune family has left many locals wondering how they will ever get over it.
Raetihi grandmother Bev Hiscox, 66, and her two grandsons Luka, 10, and JJ Sirett, 5, tragically died after a side-by-side farm vehicle they were in rolled into a farm stock dam on their rural property on the outskirts of the tiny township on Sunday morning.
Bev’s husband Michael, 69, managed to get himself out of the vehicle and was discharged from Whanganui Hospital on Sunday night after suffering moderate injuries.
Among the emergency service members who scrambled to the scene on Sunday was a son-in-law.
He is a firefighter with the Ohakune fire brigade and used a digger to breach the dam walls to release the water in an effort to save the three victims.
News of the tragedy rapidly spread around Raetihi and Ohakune where the brothers went to school and lived with their parents Jo Hiscox and Paul Sirett.
Family spokesman Elijah Pue said “Nanny Bev and Poppa Mike”, who have five daughters and 10 grandchildren, had been spending “quality time” with their grandsons on the family farm when their vehicle accidentally went into a dam.
“Naturally, the families are distraught but are comforted by the support of the close-knit Waimarino community and their friends.
“The Hiscox and Sirett families are well known in the area and have been here for many years. Bev was a stalwart in the community, a talented gardener and held many voluntary roles across the district.”
Ohakune School principal Lisa Clark said the school was completely devastated by the loss of “our precious boys and their dearly loved grandmother”.
“Our thoughts and love are with the family at this extremely difficult time.”
Luka and JJ were very close and had big hearts.
Luka was a Lego master, avid Minecraft player and awesome singer. His younger brother JJ had a cheeky smile, who loved snuggles and being in the outdoors, Pue said.
Mayor Don Cameron told the Herald the parents were well known, well respected and well entrenched in community events.
Cameron said council staff, firefighters, police and Victim Support were rallying around the family.
Ohakune fire chief John Hotter said it was “a tragic accident” and Fenz would be helping and offering support to the affected firefighter, his family and the rest of the crew.
Although separated by 11km, this triple tragedy has brought the residents of Raetihi and Ohakune closer.
Friends have been paying tribute to the much-loved trio on Facebook, describing Hiscox as a beautiful person who would be missed.
Members of the Ohakune Raetihi Garden Club posted on the club’s Facebook page that their “great mate’s” death would leave a big gap in the club.
Messages of love have also been sent to Luka and JJ’s parents, with people saying their hearts were breaking for them and that they were remembering their boys’ cheeky grins.
Federated Farmers Ruapehu president Luke Pepper said it was an absolute tragedy. He said most local farms have water storage dams which were starting to fill up in the area after a dry summer.