Rawiri, 1, (right) has been asking after his dad, Bryan Edmonds (left), since he died last Friday. Photo/Supplied
Rawiri, 1, (right) has been asking after his dad, Bryan Edmonds (left), since he died last Friday. Photo/Supplied
Farmer Bryan Edmonds farewelled his two young children and partner before going to work last Friday - but he never made it home, and was found lying dead in a paddock.
The 28-year-old is believed to have died from a genetic heart problem, something which claimed three of his five siblings before they even turned one.
Edmonds loved his job on Straight Farm, a dairy property in the small town of Whataroa on the West Coast. He loved being out on the farm with the cows and he loved taking his sons Tipene, 11 months, and Rawiri, 1, with him.
It was on that same farm, where he lived with his partner Alana Tait, 25, and the boys, that Edmonds died doing a job that he loved.
"He hated bookwork. All he wanted to do was be out on the tractor or be out on the bike or be out with his cows," said Tait.
"He was a natural farmer. It wasn't a job to him, it was a lifestyle."
The incident has left Edmonds' sons wondering where their dad has gone.
"When Rawiri asks where dad is, I just touch his chest and say 'he is in here'. I don't really know what else to tell him," said Tait.
It was just a normal day. Edmonds returned home from work for a glass of water at about 10.30am before farewelling Rawiri with, "I'll be back later" as he headed back out to the farm.
Bryan Edmonds waved goodbye to his partner Alana Tait and sons Rawiri (left) and Tipene (right) for the last time, last Friday. Photo/Supplied
Edmonds was helping a cow get back on its feet when he suffered what his family believes was a heart-related event. He was found lying in the paddock not long after 11.30am.
"It was just his ticker. It was all very sudden. There was no way he could have known it was coming," said Tait.
Edmonds was diagnosed with a heart murmur when he was 12. If an autopsy confirms he died from a heart problem, he will be the fourth child in his family to die of a heart-related issue, leaving behind two siblings Amy and Brendon.
Amy, 29, said her parents were not coping very well.
"When you have six babies and you only have two left, it's going to be pretty rough."
Amy said the family did not know what heart condition had claimed three of Edmonds' siblings but herself and Brendon planned on getting their hearts checked.
Bryan Edmonds loved taking his kids Rawiri and Tipene (pictured) out on the farm. Photo/Supplied
Tait said she would also take Rawiri and Tipene to have their hearts looked at.
Edmonds moved to the South Island from the Hawke's Bay a few years ago. It was there that the then 25 year old, met Tait who fell in love with his big eyes.
"They were big and bright. You couldn't forget those eyes," she said.
Tait fell pregnant less than a year into their relationship.
"That put different motivation in him. He didn't want to party anymore. He just wanted to work and further his career," said Tait.
"He had a tough exterior but inside it was just moosh. He would do anything for anyone."
Edmonds had big plans.
Bryan Edmonds has left behind his partner Alana Tait, 25 and sons Tipene, 11 months, and 1-year-old Rawiri.
He wanted to buy a farm, build a house and take his family on camping holidays in his modified 4WD. He loved four-wheel driving and was a member of a West Coast 4WD club called the Mud Hunters.
"We had so much planned. We wanted to get married one day," said Tait.
"He was so happy. He had a job that he loved, he had a family, he had good friends."
The young mum is now coping with the loss of the family's sole breadwinner.
"He always said 'You should never have to work'," said Tait. "He didn't want his kids being raised in a daycare or anything like that."
Amy said her brother was a devoted father who would do anything for his kids.
Although Tait planned on studying in a few months to keep herself distracted and help create a future for her kids, she said any financial support would help ease the pressure as the family comes to terms with this tragedy.
Amy has set up a Givealittle page to help raise money for Tait, Rawiri and Tipene.
