Young father Dann Kopa dies after he was hit by a car, life support turned off

34-year-old Daniel Kopa was critically injured after being hit by a car in Central Auckland. Photo / Supplied

The young father of four who had his daughter's footprint tattooed as a "last wish" has died after his life support was turned off.

Daniel (Dann) Kopa, 34, was hit by a car on Hobson St in central Auckland just before 9am on Tuesday.

The husband and father of four, including 8-month-old twins, was rushed to Auckland Hospital in a critical condition.

His family came together at his bedside and a plea went out on Wednesday to an Auckland tattooist to fulfil Kopa's final wish - completing a tattoo on his chest and arms honouring his young children.

Kopa's best friend Jonny Chambers told Fairfax that Kopa's wife Calli Cleland had made the heartbreaking decision to turn off her soulmate's life support on Thursday afternoon with doctor's guidance. He held his daughters in his arms while it was turned off. He died shortly afterwards.

"Calli felt that Dann was telling her he was ready, he was tired," Chambers told Fairfax.

"He held his daughters in his arms.

"He'll watch his girls from up there. We need to talk about Dann around his girls so they know who their father is."

Friends of the family have set up a Givealittle Page to help raise money for Cleland and their daughters Harper, 5, Zoey, 2, and 8-month-old twins Eden and Charli. Donations have flooded in and so far it has raised over $84,000.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff published a tribute to Kopa saying he had known him and his partner since they were children at school with his own children.

"I had a chance to say my goodbyes to Dann on Wednesday at the hospital. It is absolutely heartbreaking for Calli to lose the love of her life and for four little girls to grow up without their dad."

Tattooist Andre Garcia travelled to the hospital at the request of a family friend late on Wednesday night and tattooed Kopa as he lay unconscious in bed.

"She said he was planning to do this tattoo a little bit before this happened. It was such an important thing to do. I said, 'Yes, I'll do it'."

Garcia said he arrived about 11.45pm and inked a footprint of one of Kopa's children to go with one he had already had tattooed, along with the names of his twin daughters.

That tattoo took about two hours to complete.

It is understood medical staff delayed switching off life support to allow the tattoo to be finished while Kopa's wife and friends watched.

Garcia said the experience was extremely moving and he was happy to have helped.

"I just felt that this would be such a huge thing for the family, for the kids to grow up and know their whole history. I think that would mean a lot.

"I was thinking [what] if it was a friend of mine or someone from my family."

Garcia, who runs the Artero Tattoo Studio in Birkenhead, refused to accept payment for his work, and hoped the tattoo would help the family's healing process.

A police spokesman said the serious crash unit was investigating the accident.

Kopa is described on the Givealittle site as a generous and friendly person who always has a smile on his face.

"Hard working, an incredible friend, and all round amazing person - If you know Daniel then you consider yourself lucky to know one of the good guys.

"Naturally Dann's family is devastated. His family is his world. The burden of how to support his family now lies with Calli and Dann's families."