NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Kiwi banker fell to his death after letting off fireworks on roof terrace

By Mark Duell
Daily Mail·
6 Apr, 2016 05:29 PM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Clark Boustridge had only married his fiancee Sally Coleman last March. Photo / Supplied

Clark Boustridge had only married his fiancee Sally Coleman last March. Photo / Supplied

A Kiwi banker who fell to his death through a glass conservatory roof in London after letting off fireworks had 309mg of alcohol in his blood and traces of cocaine in his system, an inquest has heard.

Lloyds investment banker Clark Boustridge, 30, had climbed onto a roof terrace in Crouch Hill, north London, and went over a low concrete wall while the fireworks exploded.

He then tripped and fell through the next door property's conservatory, although his friends Jacob Kerkin and Sam Gunson managed to climb back to safety. He suffered a skull fracture and severe neck injuries that killed him instantly last December.

Mr Boustridge, who grew up in Greymouth, was the son of Ian Boustridge, a jade sculptor who helped design the suit worn by Prime Minister John Key to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding in 2011.

He had moved from New Zealand to London in 2010 to pursue his career in finance and had worked for Barclays, Credit Suisse and Capco before joining Lloyds five months before his death. He had only married his fiancee Sally Coleman last March in Auckland.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

A hearing at London's St Pancras Coroner's Court was told that paramedics tried to revive him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene and his death was said by police to be "non-suspicious".

A toxicology report found he had 309mg of alcohol in his blood, plus traces of cocaine, but friends said he showed no signs of being drunk. The legal drink-drive limit in the UK is 80mg per 100ml of blood.

Clark Boustridge and Sally Coleman. Photo / Supplied
Clark Boustridge and Sally Coleman. Photo / Supplied

Mr Kerkin, whose roof the trio climbed onto, said they had been drinking at a friend's party on the Friday night and then went back to another friend's house that was next door to his home.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

He told the inquest: "There was about 12 to 15 people there. The roof terrace to my property can only be accessed through a skylight or sash window. There's no official access.

"We had been drinking, but in my view... I don't think he was significantly intoxicated. It was a usual Friday night and his mood was consistent with just having some beers after work.

Mr Kerkin added: "I brought up two fireworks and someone constructed a launch so they could be launched safely. We discussed the safest way to let them off.

"We thought about going down the spiral staircase but decided that might be a bit dangerous. Clark had already climbed over the wall onto the area above my living room.

Discover more

World

Kiwi sculptor's son dies in London fall

16 Dec 04:30 PM
New Zealand

'True family man' to be farewelled

19 Dec 03:02 AM

"We decided that was the safest option to stand while the fireworks went off, so Sam and I stepped over the wall too. Then Sam and I went back over after the fireworks went off.

"A friend came up the spiral staircase and we greeted him and exchanged high fives as we were quite pleased with how the fireworks went off."

Trip hazard

When Mr Kerkin looked back to where the fireworks had gone off, he did not see what happened to Mr Boustridge.

He said: "From speaking to others I understand he had gone to climb over the wall to the roof terrace balcony, but had slipped and tripped. He fell into the basement flat below where I live.

"Three of us ran down to the ground and were trying to get in the conservatory. Others called the ambulance and when they arrived they advised us to stay away from the area."

Coroner Richard Brittain asked whether a cable near the edge of the roof could cause a tripping hazard. Mr Kerkin replied: "It could be a trip hazard - it's a possibility he could have got his foot caught, but I don't know."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Mr Gunson, who also climbed over the roof terrace, told the hearing: "Clark wasn't intoxicated. He was happy and jovial, but had no physical effects of drinking.

"After the fireworks I think I heard a noise. I turned back and he wasn't there, but I can't be sure what happened.

"We tried to get through the neighbouring school to get access to where he had fallen, but there was another fence between the school and the garden so could not get through."

Recording a verdict of accidental death, the coroner said: "The edge of the terrace is not secure or protected and, because there is perhaps a tripping hazard, it is clear Clark fell from the roof and it was not intentional.

"From what I have heard I don't consider this an alcohol-related death as he was not significantly intoxicated and it did not play a significant role in his death. Alcohol doesn't seem to have contributed to his death. It seems to me accidental death is the most obvious conclusion to reach.

"As there is no official access to the roof I see no need to write to the landlord to advice any action be taken. I send my condolences to the family at this sad time."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Family's grief

A spokesman for the Boustridge family said: "This was a tragic accident which claimed a fine young man before his time.

"His friends and family are still mourning his loss and continue to do all they can to honour the memory of this wonderful husband, son, brother and dear friend.

"Clark will be remembered as a family man, whose wit and grin produced endless laughter and happiness for all who knew him.

"The family once again thank all those who have showed kindness over these hard few months and ask that their privacy is respected as they continue to grieve."

- Daily Mail

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

Politics

Defence Force warned of reputational damage in savings drive

01 Jul 05:00 PM
Premium
Companies|banking and finance

Inside the numbers: Which companies top NZ's taxpayer list

01 Jul 05:00 PM
New Zealand

Museum exhibit shows off tamariki weaving skills

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Defence Force warned of reputational damage in savings drive

Defence Force warned of reputational damage in savings drive

01 Jul 05:00 PM

The NZDF said it has to cease, scale back, or slow down a range of programmes.

Premium
Inside the numbers: Which companies top NZ's taxpayer list

Inside the numbers: Which companies top NZ's taxpayer list

01 Jul 05:00 PM
Museum exhibit shows off tamariki weaving skills

Museum exhibit shows off tamariki weaving skills

Premium
Two sisters started a club rugby team to honour their late parents - and won the title

Two sisters started a club rugby team to honour their late parents - and won the title

01 Jul 05:00 PM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP