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An elderly couple are believed to have been killed by a ram at their rural West Auckland property.
The pair were found dead in their Waitākere paddock by their son who went looking for them this morning after he hadn’t heard from them, a family spokesman said.
A police spokespersonsaid they were notified just before 7.30am.
Dean Burrell said it was his mother’s sister and her husband who died. He said the couple were both in their early 80s, retired and had lived at the property for eight years.
Police at the Anzac Valley Road property in West Auckland after a couple were killed by a ram. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Police at the property in West Auckland after the deaths of two people. Photo / Jason Oxenham
“Unfortunately, they both lost their lives in a tragic accident. They are nice people and didn’t deserve this.
“Everyone’s in shock as to what’s happened. They’re very upset. I feel like I was dreaming it actually, it was a bit of shock, being told what had happened and I just didn’t believe it.”
Burrell’s father had phoned him to tell him the news.
“So I’ve come down here to support my cousins and the wider family.”
The Herald understands the ram was shot by police. It is understood police believe the man went out to check on the ram and did not return. His wife later went out to check and did not return.
Family member Dean Burrell speaks to the media after a ram killed his aunt and her husband at a West Auckland property. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Burrell said the couple were hobby farmers.
”They had some sheep, some chickens and some cattle I believe.”
“Two people have been located deceased in a paddock at the Anzac Valley Rd property,” police said.
A scene examination is under way.
A neighbour who has known the elderly couple for many years and who asked not to be named described them as a “very quiet couple”.
Police at the Anzac Valley Road property in West Auckland after the deaths of two people. Photo / Jason Oxenham
He said he was unaware they had a ram on the property but he knew they ran sheep on the lifestyle block.
The neighbour said the man who lived at the property had been farming all his life.
”He was a very good stockman,” the neighbour said.
The neighbour said he was very surprised to hear the couple may have been killed by a ram given their experience with animals.
There are several police vehicles parked down a long driveway at the property.
Police at the Anzac Valley Road property. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Police officers were seen carrying bags as they walked towards the road away from the property.
The address on Anzac Valley Rd has a two-storey house on the property, and six people were gathered on the deck of the building today.
A neighbour who lives across the road from where the bodies were found said her husband took their dog for a walk this morning only to be confronted with a large number of police and an ambulance in the property, a lifestyle block.
They did not hear anything overnight before police arrived, she said.
