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Home / New Zealand

Teen hunter never got chance to deliver Mother's Day present

NZME.
11 May, 2015 05:00 PM4 mins to read

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Jamie's father Colin Johnston said Jamie was an experienced duck shooter and practised in gun handling.

Jamie's father Colin Johnston said Jamie was an experienced duck shooter and practised in gun handling.

Boy, 15, dies after gun accidentally goes off.

The last time Ginny Bellamy saw her son, he was on his way to buy a Mother's Day gift with his father.

Jamie Johnston, 15, had been given a ride to a mate's place by his father, Colin "Bones" Johnston, shortly after picking out the present on Sunday morning.

The student of Trident High School in Whakatane then headed out to go duck hunting at Matata, near his hometown, with two friends and a parent.

But Jamie never got the chance to give his mother her present: the firearm he was using accidentally went off and killed him.

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Just hours earlier, a 21-year-old man died after being shot in the chest while hunting in Ruatiti, near Raetihi. It's believed his gun went off while he was crossing a fence.

Police have completed preliminary inquiries into both deaths.

"We urge all firearms users to please take extra care, as we don't want to see any more tragedies this season," said Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Standen of Eastern Bay of Plenty police.

Yesterday, Ms Bellamy said news of Jamie's death had left her feeling numb.

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"It is truly unfair. We were just so happy and so lucky with our [three] sons They are all just great, all hard working and focused. I don't know how I got so lucky. I don't know that Mother's Day is going to be my favourite holiday any more."

Ms Bellamy said she wanted people to remember Jamie's "sparkly brown eyes".

"I want him to know that his family love him and we already miss him. Other families should hold their children tight."

Mr Johnston said Jamie was an experienced duck shooter and practised in gun handling.

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"He loved his duck shooting. He loved shooting in general and he used to go to a shooting school and practised on targets.

"He had been around guns all his life with his family and other people who have all got licences."

Mr Johnston said Jamie's death was proof that even experienced hunters could have accidents.

He described his youngest son as the "most annoying, but he was well loved".

"He was very outgoing, had a little bit of cheekiness and he was tall and handsome. He was just a good boy and he was popular with his friends.

"[Jamie] loved his fishing and really loved his rugby and he played volleyball as well."

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An aspiring chef, Jamie was also known for his cooking skills.

His best dish was salmon, his father said, although his mother disagreed.

"His mother would say his best dish was bacon and eggs, but it wasn't," Mr Johnston quipped.

Jamie's girlfriend of a year and a half, Rowan Ball, said he was best known among friends for his smile.

"It was a caring smile. He really did light up people's day and he lit up most of my days," she said.

Rowan said Jamie's death had brought family and friends together.

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"Jamie was loved by everyone. At school today everyone was in tears and everyone was there for each other.

" Everyone just loved him so much and I just wish he could see that."

Jamie's funeral will held at the Trident High School auditorium at 11am on Thursday.

The school sent a newsletter to parents yesterday afternoon.

"Jamie was a well-loved, respected student, friend and sportsman to so many, and his loss will be deeply felt by both students and staff," principal Philip Gurney wrote.

A Facebook page was set up in Jamie's honour for friends to post their favourite memories and photos of the teen.

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Whakatane police are investigating the death but are treating it as a hunting incident.

Mountain Safety Council executive Nicole McKee labelled the two deaths "devastating" and "completely unnecessary".

She said all hunters were told to completely unload their firearms before crossing fences and other obstacles.

There were seven rules for firearms safety, and almost all firearms fatalities could be traced back to one rule being broken.

The duck hunting season began on May 2 and two men suffered gunshot wounds that day.

A 24-year-old was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital with a serious arm injury in Otago when a weapon accidentially went off, and a 30-year-old man was driven to Gore Hospital by his friends after being struck in the eye near Waikaia, Southland.

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