Mourners gather at the funeral of Jordan Kemp at the Atamatea Marae in Northland today. Photo / Chris Gorman
Mourners gather at the funeral of Jordan Kemp at the Atamatea Marae in Northland today. Photo / Chris Gorman
Several hundred mourners this morning farewelled teenage rugby player Jordan Kemp at Otamatea Marae, about 20km West of the Northland town of Maungaturoto.
Jordan, 17, died from suspected brain bleed on Sunday suffered during a match between his Otamatea Hawks premier reserves and Old Boys Marist at Kensington Park theprevious day.
Jordan's body arrived at the Otamatea Marae at 11.15pm on Monday and today hundreds of mourners descended on the marae to pay their respects.
The marae and several outbuildings were packed with mourners, leaving many to brave torrential rain outside during the hour-long service.
Students from his old schools, Otamatea High and Auckland Boys Grammar, members of the Otamatea Hawks Rugby Club, the Northland Rugby Union, family and friends were among those who braved atrocious weather.
Jordan's body left the marae about 11.30am to a stirring haka from the Auckland grammar students and as his coffin was taken into the urupa across the road the rain stopped as another haka by Otamatea Hawks players and members rang out.
The coffin was carried the short distance to the Kakaraea Cemetery, where he was laid to rest.
The funeral was attended by representatives from both rugby clubs, the Northland Rugby Union and New Zealand Rugby.
