Private services for Queenstown helicopter crash victims
Monday, 23 February 2015
Two men killed in a helicopter crash near Queenstown will be farewelled at private memorial services this week.
Eighteen-year-old James Louis Patterson-Gardner, of Queenstown, and Stephen Anthony Nicholson Combe, 42, of Wanaka, died when the helicopter they were flying crashed in the Lochy River basin on Thursday.
In a statement released today, helicopter operators Over the Top said memorial services for 'both our cherished colleagues' would take place this week.
'We would like to thank everyone once again for their overwhelming support and understanding.'
Patterson Gardner would be farewelled at Arrowtown's St John Presbyterian Church at 1.11pm on Thursday, while a service would be held for Combe at Wanaka's St Andrew's Presbyterian Church at 11am on Saturday.
Combe's family said they would continue to honour his efforts to support friend Mal Law's High 50 Challenge to raise money for the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.
Combe had been supporting Law's goal to summit 50 peaks and run the equivalent of 50 off-road marathons in only 50 days in an attempt to raise at least $250,000 for the charity.
Combe had planned to join Law on his 17th day to reach Dragonfly Peak, near Mt Aspiring, and by today, a fundraising page he set up to support Law's efforts had raised more than $5000.
A Givealittle page had also been set up by Combe's cousin, Cathi Thomson, to help support his wife and children.
More than $8000 had been raised to date, which would help other immediate family members travel from the UK to New Zealand.
'Steph and the boys need their family around them for support,' Thomson said.
Funds would also go directly to Steph Combe and her sons to help them financially 'in the very difficult days, weeks and months ahead'.
'I truly hope this fund will make a difference to the painful journey that lies ahead for Steph the boys and the families,' Thompson said.
Over the Top temporarily suspended its operations following Thursday's crash, but said it had resumed work today, with its first commercial flight lifting off this morning.
'We're continuing to comply with all recommendations set out by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and fully support the necessary steps that have been put in place,' the company said.
TAIC spokesman Peter Northcote said investigators expected to wrap up the 'scene phase' of the investigation tomorrow.
'In addition to examining and retrieving the wreckage from the accident site the two investigators will have gathered documentary evidence and completed nine interviews of company representatives and other witnesses.'
The wreckage would be transported to TAIC's technical facility in Wellington tomorrow for more detailed examination, he said.