Dune surfer's fatal error

Locals at a spot where a British trainee doctor died while boogie boarding down a sand dune say he was in a known no-go zone.

Thomas Donaldson died in Auckland City Hospital on Wednesday after the accident at Omapere, on the Hokianga Harbour, the week before.

The 23-year-old, known as Tom, from Derbyshire in central England, was "sand duning" with friends when he tumbled from the board and suffered serious head injuries.

His companions gave first aid before he was airlifted by rescue helicopter to Whangarei. He was stabilised before being transferred to Auckland City Hospital and put on a life-support machine.

Britain's Daily Telegraph reported Tom's doctor father Michael, 58, and mother Jacqueline, 51, were believed to have been at his bedside when the machine was switched off.

Tom's cousin Kay Jones, who set up a tribute page for him on Facebook, told the Herald on Sunday he was only supposed to be in New Zealand for two months as part of his medical degree. He did not know anyone here before he arrived.

"Tom was such a gentle and lovely person. He would do anything for anyone. He was such a popular boy. I am truly devastated by this event and honoured to call Tom my cousin. We are a very close family and this tragedy has shocked us all."

Omapere is a mecca for "sand duning" enthusiasts.

Manager of the community's Globetrekker Lodge, Mike Jackson, said the dunes were generally safe to surf down, but most people avoided steeper areas.

"Unfortunately this steep part was where [Tom Donaldson] was - you can still see the tracks on the dunes from where he climbed up.

"There are hundreds of people that surf the dunes every day, but the other side is very steep and very high. The dunes are dangerous if you're in the wrong spot and don't know what you're doing.

"This accident has been quite a shock to a lot of us here."

Stacey, from the Boatshed cafe at nearby Opononi, said the area where Donaldson crashed was quite a walk from where other boarders normally surf the dunes.

"He basically went where he wasn't allowed to go down - it's not banned but we all know not to go over that side. He would have fallen off his board within seconds."