Bluff school principals share fond memories of humorous cousins

Constables Peter Jenkins and David Maginn with a life buoy from the Kotuku. Picture / Simon Baker

The echo of Sailor Trow-Topi's catchphrase, "Sweet as", will no longer be heard in the hallways of Bluff Community School after his body was pulled from the freezing Southern Ocean yesterday.

The bodies of the 9-year-old, his cousin Shain Topi-Tairi, also 9, and their grandfather Leslie "Peter" Topi, 78, were hauled by police divers from the submerged wreck of the trawler Kotuku about 11am, 45 hours after the boat capsized off Women's Island in Foveaux Strait.

Sailor's principal, Jean Mullen, said the Year 5 pupil had a keen sense of humour and always treated students and staff with respect.

She described him as a kind, considerate and enthusiastic pupil.

"Sailor and his family loved going to Ruapuke Island and he had lots of stories about the beach and lagoon ...

"He will be sadly missed by all who knew him."

Pupils at Fernworth School in Invercargill spent the morning making cards and drawing pictures for Shain Topi-Tairi's mother.

Principal Anne Walker said Shain was a smiling boy who always had a twinkle in his eye.

He was very comfortable at school and had a great sense of humour and many good friends.

Shain always loved doing things, so being at the Mutton Bird Islands was right up his alley, she said.

"He was just a lovely wee man."

Ms Walker spent the morning with Shain's mother and was there when she heard the news that the boys' bodies had been found.

She said children at the school understood what had happened to Shain and were handling it "as kids do". The school would decide about special assemblies or events to honour Shain's memory after dates for funerals were set.

Ms Mullen said Saturday's accident was a tragedy for the Bluff community and was especially sad for its school as it had been affected by the deaths of Sailor, his mother, Tania Topi, and Clinton Woods, the father of another pupil, ShaTrece Woods.

Group Special Education trauma teams were at both the Bluff school and Fernworth School yesterday offering advice, guidance and support for staff, pupils and parents.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES