A former top children's sprinter, Napier Boys' High School athletics champion and NBHS national Under 15 rugby champions team member has died after a work accident in Auckland.
Leslie David Remuera (Les) Laing, a 28-year-old father of four and son of Hawke's Bay Today reporter Doug Laing, died early on Monday afternoon after the accident in the yard of Mangere export logging firm Guru.
He was struck by heavy machinery just hours into his first day back at work after being off with injuries received in a random street assault about five weeks ago in Papakura, where he has been living with partner Yvonne Atkins, their two pre-school children and two of Ms Atkins daughters.
He also has two daughters living in Napier and Hastings.
Mr Laing, who was born in Napier and attended Richmond School, Napier Intermediate and the boys' high, was a promising young sportsman.