Teen electrocuted in accident at home

Jason Duke hoped to become a boat builder after he left Massey High. Photo / Supplied

A 15-year-old West Auckland boy was electrocuted in an accident at home while using his laptop computer.

Jason Allan Duke had the computer in the back seat of his 4WD, which was parked in front of his father's house in Awaroa Rd, Sunnyvale, so he could listen to music from it while working on his car.

John England, who did not see the accident, suspected his son had been about to pump his tyres as a compressor was near the vehicle.

Jason had run an extension cord from the house and had not yet plugged it into the laptop.

It is understood he was about to do this when he was electrocuted.

His body was found behind the vehicle.

Inquest officer, Senior Constable Paul Herman of the North Shore police, said police attended the incident, last Monday afternoon, and Jason's death had been referred to the coroner.

Mr England said his son, a Massey High School student, was an "extremely proactive" boy who was always outdoors.

"He was an absolute legend, the kind of son every father wants. He was a doer. He didn't sit around."

Jason, who hoped to be a boat builder after he left school, had been sailing solo since he completed a course at 9, and in September his father bought him a 7m yacht.

"You couldn't keep him out of the water. I had him on boats since he was 1 month old," Mr England said.

Jason, a keen fisherman, had sanded down the exterior of the boat and was about to paint it.

"I couldn't have been more proud of him," Mr England said.

"He was like a Peter Blake or an Edmund Hillary, but he was only 15.

"That's how I saw him. If he had a few more years he would have accomplished so much."

The family spent countless hours sailing around Waiheke island.

Jason was also a keen motorbike rider and had bikes at his mother Pauline Duke's house in Northland when he visited.

He has a 20-year-old sister, Cheyenne.

At least 300 people attended Jason's funeral on Friday, and yesterday his family collected his ashes.

They are still deciding what to do with them.

"At the end of the day it was a tragic accident," Mr England said. "We all wish it had never happened."

A tribute page on the social networking site Bebo has been set up for friends to leave messages.

Amber wrote: "Jase you touched everyone's hearts. We will all miss you so so much. Love you xx".

SpaceCake said: "Gone But Never Forgotten. We will miss u bro."