Hastings teenager dies suddenly while on holiday in Cook Islands

By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ

A Hawke’s Bay teenager has died in his sleep during a family trip to Rarotonga.

The family of fifteen-year-old Drazei Kerehoma is preparing to bring his body home to Hastings on Friday local time.

However, his mother, Mary Kerehoma, says the family has managed to finance only half the amount needed to repatriate her son.

Mary said she was given the bill last night that was due to be paid by midnight on Thursday (Wednesday, New Zealand time) in Rarotonga.

“We’re just panicking, we don’t know what to do,” he said.

“We have families who contribute money, small amounts here and there, what they can afford, but we are nowhere near that amount.”

He is considering creating a Givealittle fundraising page to help cover expenses.

The family does not have travel insurance.

Mary said her son was always healthy, but developed a cough on Wednesday.

“That child was never sick,” he said.

“(He was) just active and healthy, so it’s a big shock to know that that could happen to a healthy person.”

Her son developed a cough on Wednesday that went away on Thursday; Later that day he had chest pain that the family thought was related to his cough.

He planned to take Drazei to the doctor the next day if he didn’t get better.

A few hours after he fell asleep, Mary found him unconscious, local doctors suspect the cause of death was probably due to blood clots.

He said the New Zealand High Commission had not yet contacted the family.

In a Facebook post shared on a Cook Islands holiday page, Mary thanked the local community for their support.

“I would like to share this post in recognition of the beautiful people of Rarotonga who shared their love and support over the sudden loss of our boy on May 2nd. Please know from us that he is highly appreciated, meitaki maata,” he said.

“A special meitaki to our funeral director, Leelash Chandar, for the incredible preparation of our child. And for ensuring that our son did not suffer any pain and died peacefully while he slept.”

He Cook Islands News reported that Kerehoma and her new husband, Todd Bonner, who married in Rarotonga in May last year, arrived on the island on April 24 for a three-week family vacation with Drazei and her two nephews.

“I was excited for the nephews… I was happy running, playing and it was no different than any other day. He was doing the same activities, the same things that he did last year: swimming, kayaking, scuba diving, running.

“Even more so when she had her nephews because the three of them are like brothers, there is not much age difference between them,” Mary told the newspaper.

“There was no complaint of anything, no pain or anything until that last day.”

-RNZ