Elderly farmer dies in scrub blaze

A 79-year-old man died last night after falling into a small fire he had lit to clear scrub on his farm.

Trevor George Turner's body was discovered by a family member on the property where he lived with his wife Patricia in Hatfields Beach Rd, about 2km from Orewa.

Friend and neighbour Stuart Davidson, who had known Mr Turner for about 18 years, said he was the village's "main man".

The couple were two of the first residents of Hillcrest Rd.

"He literally, with a spade and a wheelbarrow, helped dig out the road. He was the main man really." Mr Turner, who kept himself fit and swam at Orewa beach every day, was heavily involved in community projects and was treasurer and secretary of the local ratepayers' group.

He worked as an accountant before retiring but had revealed to neighbours at an annual get-together that he was once a cabinet-maker. Mr Turner and his wife also bred steers on the farm, where they lived for at least 30 years.

The couple had had four children, who they brought up on the property, including a son who died in a car accident several years ago.

Mr Davidson said his friend was interested in American history. One of his children lived in the United States.

"He was a quiet guy, but a really great guy," Mr Davidson said.

It is understood Mr Turner started the fire to clear scrub on his land. But fire safety investigators were last night at the scene to determine the cause of the incident.

"It is believed he was attending to a small controlled fire that he had earlier lit and has fallen into the fire," said Inspector Karen Lane.

She said the fire was not being treated as suspicious, and Mr Turner's death would be referred to the coroner.