'He's been through leukaemia twice': Family mourns death of young man on Stewart Island
A young man who twice survived cancer has died in a tragic hunting accident on Stewart Island.
It was reported yesterday that Jock Davies, 21, was in a hunting party of nine on the South Lords River hunting block and was believed to have been shot and died at the scene.
A family spokesperson declined to confirm any of those details and said they were just focused on grieving together.
"We're not confirming anything ... We just, as a family, are looking after each other and moving on and grieving in the way that best we can.
"From that side, we don't want to put anything out in the public at this stage."
The former leukaemia patient was from Tapanui, Otago, where his family is well known.
Clutha district councillor John Herbert described the loss as "bloody horrible", saying Mr Davies' death was especially cruel after all he had endured.
"He's been through leukaemia twice," Mr Herbert said.
"To have that happen, and I don't know the circumstances, but it's just bloody horrible. No family should go through that. What he's been through, what they've been through. It's not fair."
Mr Davies was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2013, and the cancer relapsed in 2018.
When the cancer recurred, the then 14-year-old stayed at the Ronald McDonald House for three months and received a bone marrow transplant.
Mother Sarah Davies said in 2023 that she had been fundraising for the cause ever since her son was diagnosed.
She is a teacher at Blue Mountain College, and her husband, Pete, is the deputy principal.
She has organised the school's head-shaving Wig Wednesday fundraiser for the Child Cancer Foundation since 2016.
"They're a family that have done so much for that school and so much for this community," Mr Herbert said.
It was an "absolute bloody tragedy" that had taken place.
"On behalf of the council and the community board, our absolute heartfelt condolences go to the family," Mr Herbert said.
"He was a bloody good guy."
The family spokesperson said they were still grieving and, therefore, unable to comment further on what occurred on Saturday.
"They just want to get through the next week or so and make sure that everybody, all their friends and family, are looked after and do anything before they publicly make a statement," the spokesperson said.
ella.scott-fleming@odt.co.nz
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