Hundreds turn out to farewell Patrick Avery at funeral

Friends and family shared their memories of Patrick Avery this afternoon - a character who was cheeky, loved the outdoors and had an infectious grin.

The 21-year-old was farewelled by well over 500 people at a service in the Whakarewarewa Forest under the sails today.

His family spoke about a young man who was always cheeky, had grown beyond their expectations, was always learning things via video sharing website YouTube, always happy, loved the outdoors and had made them proud.

Photos of Patrick, affectionately known as Paddy, were shown during the service and memories shared.

At the end of the service Patrick's body was carried through a guard of honour to a waiting hearse. More than 500 people of all ages and who had known Patrick or the family in various ways attended.

This morning mountain bikers, walkers and runners of all ages turned out to celebrate the life of Patrick Avery with a tribute ride in the Whakarewarewa Forest this morning.

Hundreds of people gathered at the bottom of Nursery Rd at the end of Long Mile Rd shortly before 9am to take part in the tribute ride for Patrick, affectionately known as Paddy. The Rotorua 21-year-old and national cycling

representative died on Tuesday night after falling from his bike.

Minutes before 9am the crowd split into to two groups on either side of the road and waited for Patrick's family to ride through and lead the pack.

As immediate family rode up Nursery Rd, the crowd followed at their own pace. Riders were still arriving after the

group had started.

One of the organisers Peter Clark, said the tribute ride was held to remember and celebrate Patrick through one of his passions.

The route was to head up Nursery Rd, left around Radio Hut Rd into the Challenge, into the Dipper, through to the Tahi and then on to the A trail - a track built by the Avery family - back to Nursery Rd.