KEY POINTS:
Bay whanau of the New Zealand concrete worker who plunged to his death with a workmate from a Gold Coast high-rise construction site on Saturday will travel to Australia tomorrow for his funeral.
Christopher Gear, 36-year-old father of two, slid off an outdoor swinging platform, with Australian man Steve Sayer, 52, as one side slumped and left them dangling from harnesses before the platform collapsed and they fell.
Shocked workers at the almost-completed Meriton Pegasus apartment complex at Broadbeach looked up as the men cried out for help, and saw them fall 26 storeys. The two men died instantly about 9.30am.
Mr Gear, who is of Ngaiterangi descent and an only child, grew up in Tokoroa where he lived until he moved to Australia about 13 years ago.
Speaking from her Te Puna home yesterday, Ngahui Smith, Mr Gear's aunt, said the family were "shattered" following the tragic loss of the "lively" man.
"He was an entertainer," she said.
Mr Gear had sung in bands before moving into construction work six years ago when his first child was born.
Mrs Smith, who is heading over to the Gold Coast tomorrow with her husband, said her nephew would probably be buried in Australia, as per his wishes.
Mr Gear and Mr Sayer had been patching concrete on outside walls, working from a platform anchored by counterweights.
Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union state secretary Michael Ravbar said it appeared that the counterweights had somehow come over the top of the building.
- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES
