Young apprentice's death shocks family and friends

Family and friends of a young man who died suddenly at a Waiheke timber yard - including his twin brother - will gather at the island's main sports club this afternoon for his tangi.

Jordan Williams, 23, was an apprentice builder picking up supplies with his employer at Placemakers Waiheke in Ostend at 10.30am on Friday when he is understood to have collapsed without any apparent warning.

Staff attempted to resuscitate him before fire and ambulance crews arrived to continue life-saving efforts.

Auckland's Westpac rescue helicopter was sent to the island, where it landed at Tawaipareira Skate Park near the store about 11am.

But its crew members left the yard about 40 minutes later after Mr Williams was pronounced dead at the scene.

A family member was reluctant to talk about Mr Williams' death yesterday, but indicated he was not known to have suffered any serious medical condition.

"So this was a shock to everyone," she said. That included his twin brother, Jesse Williams.

Waiheke's senior police officer was on leave yesterday, and no one else was available to provide details of the case, although it is believed to have been referred to a coroner.

Placemakers Waiheke owner Lee Stickland said last night that Mr Williams was a fairly frequent visitor to the store and well-liked.

"He was well-known in the community and a much loved young chap.

"It will be a very sad occasion tomorrow," a still shaken Mr Stickland said in reference to this afternoon's tangi, which is due to start at 1.30pm. "It's very sad because somebody so young has lost his life while making his way in the world. You don't expect that - that's the shocking thing.

"I understand he had made a lot of progress in his apprenticeship."

Mr Stickland said two of his staff tried to revive the young man using CPR before the paramedics arrived. He closed the yard for the rest of the day, sending his 15 or so staff home out of respect for Mr Williams.

He did not believe Mr Williams was loading building materials at the time of his collapse, or doing any other strenuous activity.

"I believe he was just walking about."