.
Uncle devastated
By JO-McKENZIE McLEAN – Monday, 01 December 2008
The elderly uncle of one of the men killed in the Air New Zealand Airbus crash in France says his nephew planned to visit him in Christchurch this week, then take him on holiday.
Rodney Eastgate, 92, said he was close to his nephew, Jeremy Cook, 58, who worked as an airworthiness inspector for the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in Wellington.
"He had three weeks holiday, which was long overdue, and he had invited me to go to Wellington and stay with him. It was so unexpected. It's been a great shock for me. He was very popular.
"He was very outgoing and made friends very easily."
Cook is survived by his wife, Sally, and two children in their early twenties a son who was a student at Otago University and a daughter who was a speech therapist in London, Eastgate said.
.
The family left for France on Saturday
.
Tourist’s keenness to take photos dampened
Wednesday, 19 November 2008
He may not have the pictures to prove it, but an American tourist will remember his visit to Napier after stepping backward off a wharf while taking a photo.
Entranced by a line-up of vintage cars yesterday, the 75-year-old cruise-ship passenger stepped backward on the wharf in the Port of Napier to fit them all into his viewfinder.
Police said the man struggled in the water, but was quickly rescued by crew member Paul Haggerty, who dived into the narrow gap.
He dropped five metres into the sea, falling between the wharf and the Dutch cruise ship Volendam. .
The passenger appeared to be in good shape when returned to land but was taken by ambulance to Hawke's Bay Hospital in Hastings to check for suspected water inhalation.
The vintage cars had been lined up on the wharf to add to Napier's art deco ambience for the passengers on the ship, which has a capacity of 1400. The camera was thought to have ended up in a watery grave.
"I would also like to express my thanks to the hospital and all the staff who have looked after me so well," he said.
Speaking from the hospital, the man – who lives in California – declined to give his name but thanked Mr Haggerty for jumping into the water to save him.
The Volendam sailed for Tauranga later in the afternoon, and the ship's agents were arranging for the rescued man to fly there to rejoin his cruise.