A Tauranga family is mourning the loss of a teenager who died suddenly from a severe asthma attack at school.
Hundreds of people attended a memorial service yesterday afternoon to farewell 17-year-old Wiremu Rawiri, a student at Te Aute College in Hawke's Bay, who died after suffering an asthma attack on Monday.
Te Aute College's acting principal Bill Adams confirmed the Year 12 student collapsed in the hostel on Monday morning and could not be revived by paramedics called to the scene.
Wiremu's uncle, Rick Tukaokao, said the family had travelled from Tauranga to Central Hawke's Bay after hearing the news.
He said following the memorial service Wiremu's body would be taken to Tauranga to be buried at his "mother's wishes".