Boy killed in bunk bed

Luca Gibson died after falling part-way out of a bunk bed. Photo / Supplied

A two-year old has died falling part-way out of a bunk bed and suffocating while on a family holiday.

Luca James Gibson's body was found by his father Todd as his brother and sister continued sleeping unaware, just below.

The family have spoken out in the hope that publicity about their own tragedy will help prevent another similar death - just as the legal standard for bunk beds comes under review.

New rules have been proposed in Australia after the deaths of seven children in bed-related incidents in eight years. The rules could also be made compulsory in New Zealand, which shares official standards with Australia, and could require bunks to be provided with higher sides, ladders and warning stickers.

Luca was found dead during the first night of a post-Christmas family holiday at the Willow Park Christian Camp and Convention Centre in Bucklands Beach.

Gibson and his pregnant wife Stephanie, of Massey, had taken Luca, his brother Micah, 4, and sister Jorja, 11 months, to the camp they attend each summer.

Luca's grandfather, David Goold, a Bible teacher at the camp, said Todd Gibson had gone to check on his children during the night.

When he discovered Luca had fallen it was too late.

"He was in his bed and he somehow just fell out of the top bunk," said Goold.

"He had tried to get out of the bunk and somehow suffocated himself doing so. His dad was the one who found him and the other two (children) were still sleeping.

"We're not sure exactly how it happened. It was just a freak accident. He was a trier - he would try and do everything by himself. It's an absolutely heartbreaking time for the whole family. He was such a special kid."

Both parents, who are awaiting the birth of their fourth child in June, were too devastated to talk about the accident. A family friend said they hoped publicity might stop similar accidents.

At Luca's funeral on New Year's Eve, Stephanie Gibson spoke of the night before the accident when Luca had been happily playing with his brother on the grass and trampoline at the camp. He ate a lamington for dessert then headed to bed.

"Luca was excited to be sleeping on the top bunk. He said, 'I go up here' about three times." Luca then asked if he could play with his cricket bat and ball.

"We said, 'tomorrow, buddy'."

A funeral was held at the Te Atatu Bible Chapel, attended by dozens of family members and friends. The children created cards for Luca, placed on top of his tiny coffin. Each child also stuck brightly coloured stickers to the outside.

Stephanie Gibson told the gathering their family could feel the pain felt by the wider church family "but we must rejoice in his wonderful life, the amazing memories and the privilege we had of knowing Luca".

Stephanie described her middle son as the entertainer of the family who loved playing with insects and watching rubbish trucks, and enjoyed music and sport - particularly cricket.

"Luca was always full of beans," she said. "When he first met people he watched and examined for a while but once he was comfortable he was the light of the party, the little entertainer."

He also loved to ring his grandparents on the phone.

Goold said the family held no ill feelings towards the Willow Park Camp, and said the staff were amazing after the accident.

One Australian study of emergency department statistics found that 1 per cent of child injuries involved bunk beds. The risk of sleeping in bunk beds decreased as a child aged, reducing markedly by the age 12.

Australian Standards has begun reviewing the rules around bunk beds - a process that New Zealand is automatically involved in through transtasman agreements.

Draft requirements include restricting top bunks to children aged 12 or more.

Plunket national child safety advisor Sue Campbell said there were no mandatory standards for bunk beds in New Zealand.

"It's a huge issue - if it is causing death then it's paramount it is looked into."

- additional reporting Joseph Barratt

Laughter and love

"Little fellows like Luca draw love out of you. His little antics, his cheeky smile, his intuitive ability to know how to get a laugh and laugh with you. Pushing all the limits with a cheeky smile. He was easy to love and my heart was bursting time and again with the joy of loving.

"It's these littlies who keep you learning how to love. This little fellow did. They all have done that and still do.

"On Saturday, out in the shallow water with his dad, he would sit down in the water with a splash and laugh his head off. Again and again. We could have gone on for hours but there were others he wanted to share his joy with. He had abundant joy to share with his world. I'll miss him so much. He taught me how to love again and again."

- from grandfather David Goold's eulogy