Cashmere Club member died after fall helping woman up, twin sister says

Friday, 12 December 2025

Colin (Charlie) Hunt died five days before his 70th birthday.

A man who died after a “tragic incident” at the Cashmere Club in Christchurch fell backwards onto concrete paving after hours of drinking to celebrate his birthday.

Colin Hunt, 69, known as Charlie to his friends, died on September 21 after suffering severe head trauma.

An ambulance was called to the club at 2.25am on September 20 - more than an hour after its liquor licence period ended for the night. The police alcohol arm prevention unit is investigating.

Chrissy Edwards posted this photo of her and her late twin brother Colin Hunt on their 70th birthday that Colin sadly did not make it to.

Hunt’s twin sister Chrissy Edwards said she called her brother on the afternoon of September 19, hours before the fall. The twins' 70th birthday was September 26, and they were planning a joint party in Cromwell.

'[It was] just normal chit chat,” Edwards said. “[I said]…'behave yourself tonight’.”

Edwards said she understood Hunt had been heading back to his campervan, which was parked at the club, when one of two women sitting outside asked for help standing up.

Police are now investigating the Cashmere Club after member Charlie Hunt died after an incident there in September.

'He leant down to put his hand out to pull her up, and they both stood up and he just went flat on his back,' she said. 'Eighty-two kilograms on your head on those concrete slabs - it's not good.'

One of the women immediately started CPR and continued until paramedics arrived, Edwards said.

Hato Hone St John confirmed it was called to Hunter Tce, Cashmere, at 2.25am on Saturday, September 20, sending an ambulance and two rapid response units. They said one patient was in critical condition and transported to Christchurch Hospital.

The Cashmere Club on Hunter Tce, where Colin Hunt fell in September.

Edwards missed a call at 4am on Saturday. At 6am, Hunt's friend called her with the news.

'I didn't think it was that serious, really,' Edwards said.

But when she arrived at Christchurch Hospital, Hunt was in intensive care. She said doctors described his injury as an “assault on the brain”. A severe head trauma from which there would be no recovery. Hunt died the following day.

The Cashmere Club has a licence to sell alcohol from 9am until 1am the following day every day except Sunday (File photo).

Edwards questioned why the police investigation was taking so long.

'I am amazed that the police are still investigating this death, because this is December and they haven't come back with a conclusion,' she said.

Her brother had health issues, she said, and she questioned whether alcohol played any role in his death.

'People say he was drinking from three o'clock in the afternoon till two in the morning, and I said, 'No, he can't have been drinking all that time - he wouldn't have been standing,'' she said. 'He was still talking and joking and laughing with people.'

“Someone would’ve said if he was too drunk but nobody's actually said anything like that.”

Hunt was born in Cromwell in 1955 and had lived in Christchurch for around 30 years. He worked in hospitality and then at roofing company Metalcraft, before retiring last year. He was captain of the Cashmere Club's pool team.

In a letter to members on Wednesday, club president Andy Webster described Hunt's death as a 'tragic incident' and said Hunt was a 'long-standing and highly respected' member.

'We remain firmly committed to providing a safe and responsible environment for everyone,' Webster said.

On Friday, the New Zealand flag outside the club flew at half-mast.