Grieving family pay tribute

Silva Natana Horton told his family several times he would be going to Heaven by the time he was 13.
The much-loved son, brother and friend turned 13 two weeks ago. On Saturday night about 9.45pm he died, trapped in the family car after it  plunged into the Whanganui River.

The devout Christian teen had been out door knocking with his mum Vanessa for more than three hours on Saturday collecting donations for a seriously injured neighbour.
After they got back to their Stewart St home from collecting they saw a group of kids smashing their letter box. The vandals ran off and Mrs Horton, Silva and his friend Robert Palmer, 14, followed them in the car.
His mother had pulled  on to the grass a few metres from the intersection of Stewart St and Somme Parade in Aramoho to speak with the group when the car slid and rolled down the steep 10m bank into the river.
Silva's dad Stacy arrived at the scene and Mrs Horton and Robert  managed to escape, but the car was too deep for Mr Horton to rescue Silva.

Yesterday mum Vanessa, dad Stacy, and younger sisters Shayleigh, 12, and Skye, 8, were packing up to accompany Silva on his final journey to his grandmother's house in Taihape.
His funeral service will be held at the house on Thursday morning, before burial at Taihape Cemetery.
Mr Horton said the family were from Taihape and it was  right that their son be laid to rest there.
Both parents said their son was an "extraordinary boy with amazing qualities" and was deeply religious.
"He gave himself to the Lord when he was only 9 and he has always talked about wanting to live in Heaven," they said.
Sister Shayleigh said: "My brother talked about being in Heaven every day.  I think he really wanted to be there."
 Dad Stacy said Silva had told his family many times he would be going to Heaven when he was still pretty young ... "by the time I'm 13", he had said.
Mr Horton said his son always said the most incredible things. "Silva went out of his way to help other kids. He was good to everyone.
"Every day he was caring, kind and everyone loved him so much."
Silva's Auntie Marara described him as a boy who lived life to the full.
"He loved playing rugby. He was very good at it. He was also into motocross. He had heaps of mates, both here in Taihape and Wanganui. He was just a lovely little boy, so outgoing. It's just very, very sad."
Silva attended St Mary's School in Wanganui.
Principal Chris Gullery described Silva as very popular, with a "large presence and personality".
"Our school is now going through a grieving process. We care for all our students," he said.
He did not want to comment further until he had spoken to Silva's relatives.
A minister from Ratana Pa blessed the site of the Whanganui River on Somme Parade after the accident.
Whanganui iwi kaumatua John Maihi explained that a rahui is placed on waterways only if a body is not found.
Before the launch of the rowing sculls for the Prospace Billy Webb Challenge on Sunday morning, the Rev Canon Graham Puru from Putiki said a karakia for Silva and his family.
Mr Horton questioned whether there should  be steel safety-barriers along the riverfront, on Somme Parade.
"It would have stopped the car going into the river. The safety along there needs to be looked at."
Mr Horton said he and Vanessa had always felt a heaviness from the Whanganui River.
"Like a real spiritual heaviness."
Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws said he and  Cr Rana Waitai had inspected the crash site along Somme Parade yesterday afternoon. "I have already written to the Horton family and attempted to make phone contact to express my personal sympathies at the tragic death of their son, Silva."
The location did not suggest a particular need for crash barriers. A car would need to mount the kerb, cross the footpath and then travel some distance before going over the bank, he said. There were more dangerous sites on Somme Parade, some of which already had crash barriers where the riverbank was closer to the road, Mr Laws said.
"However, we will review the matter and I would be happy to discuss the issue with the Horton family when they feel that they are ready," he said.
- Additional reporting Glenn Watson