Partying teen dies in caravan fire

A teenager died after fire broke out in a caravan in which he was sleeping following an 18th birthday party. The fire was not thought to be suspicious.

Police have not yet released the name of the victim but it is understood he was 16-year-old Matt Kingsbury, of Waikana, 12km southeast of Mataura.

His uncle Ian Kingsbury told The Southland Times that Matt had been at an 18th birthday party at the nearby Edendale Rugby Club on Saturday night.

After the party he was staying in a caravan on a section of land beside the birthday girl's home, when it caught fire early yesterday.

Sergeant Wing Ng, of Invercargill, told the paper when firefighters arrived the caravan was well alight.

The body was found inside the burnt out shell after the blaze was extinguished.

There had been only one person inside the caravan and the fire was not suspicious, Mr Ng said.

Neighbours said the caravan had been put on the site on Saturday for some of the partygoers to sleep inside.

Mr Kingsbury said his nephew had had a bright future ahead of him.

A Menzies College, Wyndham, student, Matt was an accomplished river kayaker, rugby referee and player, having represented the Menzies College first 15.

Fire Service investigator Barry Gibson would not reveal the cause of the fire.

"All I can say is the fire was contained inside the caravan and we are not looking at it as being suspicious."

The matter had been referred to the coroner, Mr Gibson said.

- NZPA