A man who had experienced some of the world's greatest adventures, in Africa and the Himalayas, and jumped from planes, died when a vehicle crashed on a family duckshooting trip on Saturday.
He was Matthew Douglas Atkin, 29, formerly of Poraiti, 13km west of Napier.
The accident happened when he was thrown from a four-wheel-drive vehicle on a farm track at Papanui near Taihape.
The hunting party, including his father Doug and brother Stevie, were heading home for lunch after the first morning's shooting on what had been an annual family gathering dating back at least 30 years.
His uncle, David Atkin, who was also in the vehicle, said it was a freak tragedy and happened when Matthew "jumped the wrong way" as the vehicle appeared to hit a hole and overturned.
"It was so totally sudden, unexpected," he said.
A doctor was among those in the party but Matthew was unable to be revived.
A former pupil of Taradale and Palmerston North Boys High schools, Matthew was a carpenter who had worked for his father's company, Atkin Construction, and had recently moved to Auckland.
He had been on the annual duckshooting trips many times, and his uncle said: "He lived for it. Hunting and fishing."
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Duckshooting trip ends in fatal crash near Taihape
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