Fundraiser to bring body home cut short

Jason Kahukiwa.

Fundraising efforts to bring home the body of a former Rotorua man have been cut short after a decision was made to instead cremate him.

The family of Jason Kahukiwa, 20, started a GoFundMe fundraising campaign to raise the $15,000 to bring his body home after his sudden death.

Mr Kahukiwa was killed on a train track in Melbourne last Thursday alongside friend Callum Hall, who was trying to rescue him.

On Tuesday Kylie Kahukiwa, Mr Kahukiwa's sister, posted on the GoFundMe page - which had reached $8405 thanks to donations from more than 170 people - they would no longer be asking for donations. She wrote:

"From the bottom of our hearts we cannot thank you enough for your love, support, messages, phone calls and your koha (donations) to get our boy home.

"It is all of you that has given us the strength to keep going during this time.

"It is with a heavy heart that I give this update today. Dad and I have since heard from the coroner and we were dealt another heart breaking blow, that our Jay's precious body will not be making a journey home as we had hoped.

"Due to the extreme and unfortunate circumstances surrounding his death it has been decided that Jay will be cremated.

She went on to say the GoFundMe account would be closed and donations used to cover a "beautiful funeral service" for Mr Kahukiwa in Melbourne.

Anything remaining would be donated to Mr Hall's partner for their two daughters.

"Callum was a dear friend to Jay and tragically lost his life on the tracks alongside my brother. We will forever be grateful to you each and every one of you for your generosity during this heart breaking time.

"The financial burdens any death brings are so significant but because of all of you Mum and Dad have been able to grieve without the worry.

"If any of you still wish to donate we ask that you donate to Callum's fund for his two baby girls. We will forever be grateful to you all. May the boys both rest in paradise forever more."