Teen landslide victim's pregnant partner tells of shock

Hugh Biddle was looking forward to becoming a father - but he'll never meet his daughter.
On Saturday, the 17-year-old died in a landslide that buried part of his foster father's Ohope house.
Hugh was in his downstairs bedroom and rescue workers who frantically dug through the dirt and debris were unable to reach him in time.
After a day-long rescue operation, his body was recovered by firefighters.
Hugh's baby, a girl, is due to arrive in September.
Yesterday, his partner of three years, Cherize Kutia, spoke to The Daily Post about the couple's dreams and about how she will remember Hugh.
"He was funny, he was humble, he was respectful and he was really excited about being a dad," she said.
"He was always doing things for my family and his and never expected anything in return. He really loved Rob, his foster dad who he called koro."
The night before his death, Hugh had spent three hours painstakingly drawing a banner for the first birthday of Cherize's niece, a birthday that was held on Saturday.
"The theme for the birthday was The Enchanted Forest and Hugh had been with my family decorating the room for the party.
"He had his costume all sorted out.
"He was going to be the tooth fairy with a pink fluffy wand, huge wings, pyjamas and slippers," Cherize laughed.
Hugh's plan was to warn the littlies about tooth decay from too many lollies.
"But he never showed up," Cherize said sadly.
"He was always late so I put a plate of food away for him thinking I would probably see him after his rugby game on Saturday afternoon."
The family had heard reports of the tragedy at Westend but it was initially understood the trapped person was 18.
"Since Hugh was only 17, I didn't think much more of it."
While Cherize was at the birthday party, police were looking for her as often she stayed with Hugh at his home.
It was her mother, Anne-Marie, who eventually broke the news. "I took Cherize and her sisters and brother aside and told them as the police arrived at the venue." The young mother-to-be screamed and then collapsed into her mother's arms.
"She just kept saying 'no' over and over again."
Yesterday, after the initial shock, Cherize was thinking about the good times.
"We knew straightaway when I fell pregnant and didn't tell anyone for 15 weeks," she said. "It was just mine and Hugh's secret."
She spoke of his plans to buy their daughter a cot and a pushchair.
"He even talked about selling his beloved white Mitsubishi Evo 5 car and buying more of a family wagon - it would have had to be tinted and lowered though," Cherize laughed.
She described Hugh as an XBox freak and said she was often relegated to the couch to sleep while Hugh and his best mate played XBox into the small hours.
"He was also really competitive when we played Buzz junior and was a real television remote hog."
One thing Hugh did that many 17-year-old boys don't, is write letters. Ms Sim read an extract from one of his recent letters to Cherize.
"Before I met you I never knew what it was like to look at someone and smile for no reason," the letter said.
"You're not perfect or imperfect, you're just you and I love you."